Fear of Change

“Change before you have to.”
~Jack Welch~

Is there something in your life that you are afraid to do to make a life-benefitting change?

Perhaps it’s to say something to someone.

Or take A STEP towards that ‘scary’ goal (scary only because YOU think it’s something beyond YOUR limits!)

This is a simple blog post.

GET THE F*&K OVER IT!

And TAKE action.

If you want to hang on to your excuses, and take a minimal risk…

then donate your CHANGE here…

and we’ll use it wisely to help those that WANT to and ARE WILLING TO…

TAKE ACTION…

but perhaps don’t have the same life opportunities as YOU.

So go on..

TWO choices.

TAKE ACTION NOW with YOUR STEPS towards YOUR GOALS..

or

DONATE your CHANGE for CHANGE

NOW!

Thanks!

Good luck in your choice.

Road Trip to WA's South-West: Dunsborough, Yallingup and Margaret River

This past week has been a momentary ‘pause’ in my hectic schedule since returning back to Perth from 4-years of (intense) global travels.

A journey to Western Australia’s south-west began on Wednesday this last week. It’s a week for me to reflect, read, and (as I constantly do) re-evaluate my life-plan.

South-West Australia: Perth to Dunsborough, Yallingup and Margaret River

I’ve embarked upon a new journey this year; commencing my first-year-of-five studying to become a Doctor of Chiropractic. At least, I’m determined to walk this path until it is complete, or leads me to the next ‘level’ towards my vision.

Side note:
Why am I studying Chiropractic? (I get asked this regularly, so now is the time to share briefly my ‘Why’).
My Answer: During my travels from 2008 – 2012 I came across many mentors and masters who have influenced me.

One of those mentors is the late Dr. Victor Frank (who I was introduced to by Dr. Steven Klayman during a short stay at an ashram in Chennai, India (2008).

In 2009 I was invited to spend time with Dr. Victor Frank (Chiropractor) and his wife in St George, Utah (USA); being trained one-on-one in their home for a healing modality called TBM “Total Body Modification”. The impact on my own health, along with his teachings were so profound that it planted the seed then and there that I wanted to discover and explore more about this health field, and master these healing methods.

It’s now 3 years on, and both Dr. Victor Frank and his wife Diane passed on in 2010. It was September last year when I had a fire burning in my belly with a ‘knowing’ that I was to move forward in this research for my own life, and to help others.

So it is, with my first semester of study now well underway, and my major ‘hurdle’ jumped (my essay is complete) I’ve decided to get away and take a week’s reprieve. Really, it’s an opportunity to catch up on reading and study while being in nature, without the distractions of home to deter me from my outcome (of catching up with the unit readings). With 52 ‘credits’ under my belt from previous study and training (Paramedic and studying Critical Care Para-medicine) I am blessed to only have one unit at Uni this semester! Hence the ability to get away on a week break.

With my dog “Cooper” and my caravan hitched to my 4WD car we headed off for a week.

On our way towards Dunsborough, I passed through Busselton where my parents were also staying a few days with my Grandma. I decided to briefly stop in and surprise her with a “hello!”

Grandma June is an incredible woman. Now in her 80′s she’s still vibrantly active as an Anglican Priest and shares her spirit and kindness with the community in Busselton.

Grandma: A Woman Who Inspires Me!

I’ve parked up at Caves Caravan Park, Yallingup for the duration of my stay. With my caravan now unhitched and set up, I’m in my perfect home-away-from-home. It’s luxury with my own bathroom/toilet, kitchen, dining, double-bed, TV, and even wireless headphones (which impress me that I can walk some 15+ meters around the campsite with my dog and still listen to the CD playing in my TV/DVD player!)

Having a caravan (and not an all-in-one mobile home) is a huge advantage in that I can park it up, and use my car to explore the territory: wineries, chocolate factories, cheese factory, local restaurants, and more without a cumbersome vehicle to try to manoeuvre into some of the tight parking spaces in this area.

I arrived Wednesday afternoon, and simply set up and relaxed. It’s such a joy to be able to feel like a kid and ‘play cubby house:’ just doing the simple things I enjoy most while away on holiday: shopping, cooking, eating, drinking, reading, sleeping… and casual walks around the area. So here’s what I did:

Thursday

I woke up early (like 4am) with the desire to cook! I waited it out a little longer with first putting some time aside to read and sip on a hot cup of coffee. But at the crack of dawn I began making a vegetarian-style lasagne. With such strong aromas, I decided to cook at my outdoor ‘camp kitchen’ – a small table set up with a single gas-burner plate. I boiled and bubbled finely diced mushroom, eggplant, zucchini, onions, garlic and herbs with canned tomatoes, tomato paste and pasta sauce. By 7:30am my neighbour peered his head around his camper van, assuming to hang up some tea towels on the clothesline next to his bay. He nodded, smiled and said “smells good!” I grinned and scuttled back into my caravan to prepare the set up for making the white sauce. A few hours later, complete with a cheddar and fresh parmesan cheese topping, the layered delight finished cooking in my ‘flavour wave’ oven now in situ where the single gas burner was.

With my dinner now prepared, I went shopping at the local supermarket in Dunsborough for some more fresh vegetables. I was preparing for my parents and Grandmother who were coming over for lunch. (Grandma doesn’t prefer to eat dairy, so poor me, I have to save the lasagne all for myself! *happy to oblige*)

Family Lunch

While I made up a delicious fresh garden-style salad, dad brought and cooked up local marinated lamb and pork steaks on the BBQ grill. We sipped on chilled wine (Grandma had herbal tea!) and enjoyed quality time together. My heart was filled with delight experiencing the joy of time with my family again. My core-driving-factor for creating my lifestyle freedom involves spending quality time with my family and friends: my loved ones.

After several hours of laughs, discussions of childhood memories and even challenging conversation (at one point, my beloved Grandmother kindly lectured me about the use of alcohol — funny, how my parents were also drinking and didn’t get that lecture directed at them! At one point dad just sipped his red wine and looked at me across the table with a smirk in his eyes (clearly not willing to get entangled in this conversation). Bless her, she cares. And in her perspective, she’s right! BUT…. I LOVE MY WINE! So, I continue to enjoy it in a balanced way of living – exercise, water, healthy food, etc.

After my family left to head back to Grandma’s home, I headed out for a walk along Yallingup Beach. It is an incredible sight, intensified by the late afternoon sun and pre-wintery weather, with large waves curling and crashing; surfers skating the waves with ease, and sometimes being thunderously dumped!

Yallingup Beach

The beach sign warns of the perils of this watery basin, but I notice is does neglect to mention the commonality of sharks! This area of Australian waters (along the west coast from Perth down to Albany) is a haven for white-pointer sharks. With many shark attacks on the rise these past few years, my fear (respect?) of the ocean has increased. I’m happier to stay on land and take photographs!

Later that evening, I enjoyed being relaxed at the campsite, in the sanctity of my caravan: enjoying a movie, eating my lasagne and drinking some delicious organic local red wine.

Friday

With some more reading done, I loaded Cooper up in the car and we headed out for a day of delighting the senses in the local Margaret River region.

First stop was Gabriel’s Chocolate Factory where I was almost converted to ‘chocolate lover!’ This is chocolate with integrity with the owners love of  the purest sort begin expressed in their chocolate making! Until Gabriel’s Chocolate Factory there was only the Margaret River Chocolate Factory (incredible also). But Gabriel’s is a unique concept in ‘single source’ chocolate.

Second stop was The Olive Soap Factory – which is an overload of delight to the senses. While the soap and body products are incredible, I made a beeline for their edible products: olives, tapenade range, gourmet pasta source, olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Having discovered this amazing store during my last trip to this region a year ago, I wasn’t leaving without more of their imported bella olives from Italy, or their locally made goodies from gourmet chefs!

Margaret River Region

Third stop was The Bootleg Brewery. It was just pushing noon, and with only a few cars in the car park the place was very much a ghost town at my arrival. I walked around the grounds, and decided there was nothing on the menu to my liking today. And much more a wine-lover than a preference for beer, I skipped the beer-tasting opportunity and moved on.

Forth Stop: ‘Knee Deep’ in Margaret River winery. With a quaint restaurant and wine-tasting area snuggled into a space to view their vines, it has a wonderful relaxed feel. Their wines are delicately balanced and all beautiful. I purchased five bottles from this experience and stored them in my car, ready for the next stop.

Fifth stop: Laurance Winery. I happened to drive past this one. At 90 kilometres an hour, I zipped past realising that the gate for the driveway entrance was open. I’ve never visited this winery before, as each time I had been in the area previously the gates were closed. Hungry and intrigued by the immense beauty of the landscape I did a u-turn and headed back in.

When you walk into the restaurant entrance your eye is drawn immediately upward to the wine-glass chandelier.

wine-glass chandelier at Laurance Winery

The presentation of Laurance Winery is elegant and welcoming. The gardens sprawl with rose bushes, keeping a continuous brand of the theme of their wines and presence. Simply, beautiful. So I decided to stay for lunch and enjoy a meal with some wine-tasting. A perfect place for a wonderful meal, getaway and family gathering. I highly recommend this place for the entire experience.

My last stop for today’s tour was a visit to the Margaret River Venison Farm — While I have become much more of a ‘vegetarian’ eater, I still enjoy meat. However I am selective about what meat I eat (organic and free-range) which is why I whole-heartedly recommend the Margaret River Venison Farm.

Margaret River Venison Farm

Interestingly, it’s not only venison (deer) that they stock. Also available is: crocodile, kangaroo, duck, spatchcock, rabbit and goat. So if you are into some fine dining and expanding your taste, this is a destination you must stop at while in the local area!

When I arrived back at the campsite around 3:15pm, I took Cooper for a walk. She’d been an incredible traveller all day in the back seat of my car with the occasional mini-walk and toilet break. But now it was her turn to get a real ‘ground-adventure’. We followed some tracks behind the Yallingup Caves Hotel across the road from our accommodation site, heading through the luxury ‘forest-like’ reserve. (It wasn’t until I arrived at the caves house that I discovered it’s a ‘National Park’… so be aware that dogs are actually not allowed in this area!)

Walk to Ngilgi Cave

So I grabbed a brochure from the ticket office and headed back to the caravan, with the intention of stopping by to explore the cave the next day.

Saturday

I’d booked a massage for today, specifically to treat my arms and shoulders/neck area. My forearms have been aching for weeks, with the hot, sharp pain increasing especially in my elbows and wrists. Suspecting ‘tennis elbow’ and hand extensor muscle over-use (lots of typing for notes for Uni) I have been giving my arms a much needed break this week. But I needed help to relieve the excruciating pain that had come to the point of reducing me to occasional tears.

Introducing: Michael Harris, Massage Therapist (and Scenar Therapist).

I spent 2 1/2 hours under his caring hands and treatment, which amazingly created a HUGE immediate relief after the one treatment. He first used his Scenar device to help me get more balanced, then used his own modified (and very detailed) massage treatment to help my body relax. I experienced NO PAIN while getting this treatment. In the past I have had massage therapists ‘push’ through my muscles to release, which would often have me more wired up from secondary muscles tightening due to the displeasure! But not Michael. He has an intuitive sense of exactly where to press and release. If you are in or coming to the Busselton or Dunsborough region, look him up. Call him at: 0412 618 799

After such a healing massage I then wandered down to the local organic cafe: Samudra.

Samudra Cafe

If you like food that is ALIVE, BIODYNAMIC SUPERFOOD then this is your haven to eat in.

I ordered the vegetarian burger with the organic wheat bun (even Cooper enjoyed it!) and then followed it with an organic coffee latte (with nut milk) and raw carrot cake (it was delicious but so sweet, so I ate a few bites and took the rest back to my caravan).

Samudra is a haven for yoga, health and even surf retreats. Located in the heart of Dunsborough, it’s easy to find and a fun place to hang out.

On the way back to Yallingup I headed to Ngilgi Cave again. This time making it (just in time) for the 2:30pm semi-guided tour.

Ngilgi Cave Yallingup

The cave is fascinating with incredible crystals and formations – which you are not allowed to touch but a sight to be seen! Discovered in 1899, Ngilgi cave (formally known as Yallingup Cave) is one of Geographe Bay’s most renowned tourist attractions. It lays beneath the limestone ridge that forms Cape Naturaliste.

Katie Joy in Ngilgi Cave, Yallingup

Early evening: Well at 5pm… just to balance out all that ‘healthy stuff’ from earlier on, Cooper and I headed to the local ‘Yallingup Caves Hotel’ across the road to listen to the Saturday night band bang out some tunes. I indulged in a few beers and a local T-Bone steak, salad and chips (Are you getting the picture that I love my food!??) while Cooper indulged in some extra fine meat for the night also.

Yallingup Caves Hotel

With a large group of people moving in to the outdoor seating area for a previous reservation, Cooper and I headed off back to the caravan park before 8pm. Glad we did, because not long after we arrived back, a storm whisked through with rain and heavy thunder. Like most dogs, Cooper is petrified of storms, especially thunder. So with her cuddled up on my bed, feeling safe we slept throughout the night with peace, and very full bellies!

Sunday

The plan was to head back to Perth today. But with the weather continuing to be ‘drizzly’ with showers intermittently coming through, I made the decision to stay put for another day. It meant I could write this blog update, and rest…..

….it’s now nearly 1pm (I began writing this blog at 9am! With my arms still tender, I’m taking my time and doing lots of stretches in-between writing!)

…with the wintery weather, it’s an opportunity to kick back with another movie, some left-over lasagne and a glass of red!

Bon appetit!

Happy Easter

With love, light and blessings, may you celebrate this holiday with family and friends.

An Interview With Laz Jefferson:

His Experience of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro,

and Safari in Africa….

This is really both a share of MANIFESTING AWESOMENESS as well as a dear friend of mine sharing his experience of hiking up to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro (to the Uhuru summit)

First, let me share with you the Manifesting Adventure that brought about this interview!

On Thursday night, I was working on my computer doing an update video for the ‘Kilimanjaro “The Roof of Africa” Safari Tanzania’ mastermind-adventure we are running 30th June – 14th July 2012, because we’ve now opened up the option to participate in the ‘Safari-only’ (7-days) portion of the tour.

Happily creating away, I had a strong thought, “my next video I need to interview someone who has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro who can share their story and experience.”

I had Facebook running in the background and instantly saw a ‘red flag’ pop up to indicate I had a new message just land in my Facebook inbox.

I clicked on it.

And almost fell of my chair! Talk about INSTANT results!

This is what I received.

Laz Jefferson - 'Random' Facebook Messages

So I wrote straight back and asked:

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro questions

And I started to giggle when he revealed his ‘pre-climb-fitness-and-health’ state:

No Excuses... Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

“I didn’t have any problems and I was still smoking a pack/day at that point!”

[Note: Laz is no longer a smoker]

I asked Laz if I could interview him on Skype ‘now’ and he heartily agreed.

So please, enjoy the video/audio.. it’s funny, entertaining and also revealing of both how ‘climbing Mount Kilimanjaro‘ may be easier than you think!

Oh, and here are a few pics Laz sent me of his experience climbing Mount Kilimanjaro… including the one where in the video/audio he shares his story of why he ‘flipped-the-bird’ up on the mountain!

Laz Jefferson - Mount Kilimanjaro 1989

Watch the video/audio to find out WHY Laz 'flipped-the-bird' on the mountain!

Glaciers of Mount Kilimanjaro 1989 - A different landscape today, and 'tomorrow'... perhaps GONE!

Would you like to experience the adventure of Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

with a group of like-minded people on a

MASTERMIND-ADVENTURE!

I’m taking a small intimate group of entrepreneurs and life-adventurers to

Tanzania!

30th June – 14th July

Arrival day, 7-day Climb Mount Kilimanjaro plus 7-day safari.

We now also have the option to join us on the
‘Safari-Only’ portion of the tour if
hiking Mount Kilimanjaro is not on your Bucket List,
but going on an African Safari IS!

You can find out more here:

www.WowAdventuresClub.com

Today is one documented as a “WOW” day, especially after a magnificent breakfast and conversation with my friend and fellow Life Adventurer, Mike Dooley (writes “Notes From The Universe”), who came to my home city of Perth (Australia) to share his teachings with ‘Playing the Matrix’. While he was here, I got the chance to catch up with him. I’ll get back to telling you more about his event (and how you can go to it too) in a minute…

I’ve just dropped Mike off to the domestic airport, where he is now heading for Melbourne. As we got out of the car he said, “let’s get a picture!” So we both grabbed our cameras, and here’s (above) the magic shot!

Rather than just post this pic on Facebook to share, I really felt the urge to indulge you with some realizations (and lots of MAGIC) that occurred today.. or at least became ‘known’.

Let me tell you how I met ‘Magnificent’ Mike Dooley (he really is a wonderful soul whom you must meet),  since what both he and I teach is all about manifesting the life of your dreams, and what I have to share today is all about MANIFESTING, particularly how we met – which is pure divinity in it’s finest form, along with synchronicity!

During breakfast, I shared with Mike the circumstances that led us to meet, the first time… in Africa September 2011.

One particular day in last March 2011 I made two life-changing decisions. Two decisions that had been nudging me for years, but that I had been holding off until that one morning.

I decided:

1. I’m going to go on an African Safari “this” year (2011); and

2. I’m going to set in motion the launch of my first ‘Mastermind-Adventure’

The first goal was challenging in itself, as I already had a VERY busy travel schedule in 2011 and wasn’t sure where or when it would fit it. It didn’t matter. That was not for me to determine, ultimately. I just knew I needed to set the intention and GO TO AFRICA.

The second goal scared the hell out of me. It meant commitment. It meant, going out on a limb. It meant stretching myself into a ‘dark’ area, meaning I couldn’t see where I was going other than the vision in my head. I had to access all areas of confidence in my life where I have succeeded to ‘cross-pollinate’ it into my vision and dream, so I could take action. I had to believe I could do it.

That one morning in March, with my new commitments and both written down on my ‘to action’ list, I celebrated with a cup of coffee. After I settled back down into my seat at my home-office desk, I enjoyed my coffee break as I flicked through Facebook.

Perusing the ‘main feed’ my eyes caught a random post (to this day I can’t remember who posted it or what it specifically said.. I never thought I’d blog about this, so didn’t take a screen shot). The post was a comment about a trip in Africa, with a link attached.

I clicked the link.

And life has never been the same again!

The link led me through to www.tut.com …I read the page and clicked through to the tours… and at that time Mike Dooley was promoting an African Safari in Kenya …which I signed up for IMMEDIATELY. When I had read through his website pages, this man (who I recognized from the movie “The Secret”) resonated with my soul. I got ‘spirit-bumps’ all over my body and KNEW that this was an extremely fast response to my ‘request’. The thing is, my thoughts for a trip to Africa (as were the ones for creating my own Mastermind-Adventures club) had been almost pounding the inside of my heart and skull for several years. I can just imagine that the ‘Universe’ and Angels alike all celebrated with relief when I finally just said and took action for ‘WHAT I REALLY WANTED!.’

So, I booked the trip and went on one of the most amazing adventures of my life!

African Safari with Mike Dooley

Mike and I discussed at breakfast this morning that it was one of the best adventures we had been on, and he said it was the best adventure for the TUT tours to date. There really is something incredibly MAGICAL about Africa.

When traveling across the glorious distances of savannah and African landscape, I spent some time with Mike chatting away in the van. We had already made a great connection the first morning of the tour at breakfast, where we realized we had a lot in common. But it was this more intimate discussion we had during the hours of driving that reinforced my own dreams, beliefs and desires for creating my own Mastermind-Adventure club, to share with others how to ‘Design Your Life, Live Your Dreams’ while DOING it!

I knew then with more awareness than ever that there was an incredible force of alignment…

So it is, with this new and great friend of mine, Mike Dooley, and the incredible adventure we had in Africa, that influenced me to set my first Mastermind-Adventure for TANZANIA, Africa (right next door to Kenya). It’s a 15-day “Hike & Safari” (includes 7-days Mount Kilimanjaro and 7-days Safari.)

(I must note, that also a friend on the tour, Ellen St John, had also brought the possibility of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to light. My immediate response was “No Way! I can’t!” …then I caught myself and decided, “If I ‘can’t,’ then I must!”)

So it was during breakfast that we both marveled at how amazing manifesting is… and even more exciting when you notice the network of events that synchronize to align what it is you ask for.

Mike is now headed to Melbourne, then Brisbane, Sydney and Auckland for the rest of his
‘Playing the Matrix’ tour,
before heading back to Orlando, Florida.
Make the time to go to his event.
It’s a game-changer, and he really is a terrifically nice guy!
You can get more details of his events at

www.tut.com

My new babies - Meki & Wigly

Meet my new babies… I’ve just adopted them!

Meet Meki and Wigly….

It’s been one of my dreams for years to visit the Orangutans in the wild, and photograph them.. it’s still on my Bucket List.

Over this past weekend, I watched a T.V. news program promoting these beautiful animals and what is REALLY going on with their habitat……… it won’t be long before they become extinct, if WE …the voice of the people world-wide… don’t do something NOW to help arrest the extinction, and instead take on new habits for LIFE for these amazing animals…

They are so close to our own human make-up……could you imagine the human race becoming extinct, because an animal wanted to ruin OUR habitat?!

Seriously!…

So, with the information given on the TV program, and my own personal mission to visit these amazing animals in the wild (I’ve always wanted to visit Borneo)… I’ve taken action and adopted not one, but TWO orangutans for a year, and will commit to doing so for every year for the rest of my life……. or theirs!

Because animals, and THIS mission is so close to my heart, if you have an inkling to assist with the same thing, then I’m going to BRIBE* you to participate in adopting an orangutan…

http://www.orangutan.org.au

Yep, you heard me right.. I’m going to bribe you!

For each orangutan you adopt for ONE WHOLE YEAR (that’s only AUD$55), then when you email  me [katie[at]theglobalbutterfly[dot]com… a copy of your receipt or a screen shot of your invoice number: Like this (see below)

I will post you a copy of my latest book I contributed to: “Adventures In Manifesting: Success And Spirituality”

This book is packed full of stories, including my own, that lift and inspire you to live your best life.

So not only do you help an Orangutan for THEIR best life, you can assist yourself with your own… at no extra cost!

This one is on me!

*Note: This offer is ONLY available for WITHIN AUSTRALIA…

Oh, and since I mentioned ‘bucket list’……… I am also hosting my next free Webinar “How To Create A Bucket List To Get Results” this coming Thursday, 15th March 2012…. at 6:30pm AWST (GMT+8)
If you can’t make it, still register, and also register for the free www.wow-notes.com so that you can get the once-only exclusive access for the replay…

Save the Orangutans!

x Katie

Getting Organized

“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.”

~Benjamin Franklin~

Where did February go? In a blink of an eye, this whole month has zipped passed!

I’ve had my ‘head down, bum up’ focusing on getting my ‘domestic life’ super organized, since coming back to Perth at the end of January after almost 4 years traveling the world full-time.

While I had been back ‘home’ a few times in-between adventures and global jaunts, it’s now, that I have a new Australian-based focus that I am whipping my surroundings into massive organization.

I’m getting organized again!

I’ve ALWAYS been an organizer. However, extensive travel does help you to adjust the ‘anally retentive gene’ to being ‘OK, I’ll put up with that for now’ mind-set. Or you simply go mad. Or don’t travel.The latter wasn’t an option for me.

Traveling has been and always will be a vital part of my life. It makes me feel ALIVE. And in my opinion, it’s the BEST education one can have.

But I am a domestic cat also. I LOVE my home.

And so it is, with these past 30 days that I have been organizing my space. Adding, subtracting and shuffling.

There’s a lot that has also been going on – just in my home:

• I’ve had an underground pool installed
• Pool fencing put in
• (Pavers are yet to go down)
• Cafe blinds erected up on my patio
• An attic being installed
• New air conditioners installed to bedrooms
• Solar heating installed for the house
• Solar heating installed for the pool
• Landscaping and reticulation renewed for back yard (still in process)

And that’s just at the house!

While all that has been going on, I’ve begun or attended, or set up:

• University ‘full-time’ – to ‘become’ a Chiropractor. (I’ll talk about that later in another blog post, and why I’ve chosen to go back to University to study)
• Seminars
• Perth Activities & Adventures Club – and launched our first event
• Preparing for our mastermind-adventure for Tanzania in July (www.wowadventuresclub.com)
• Writing a chapter for a book compilation being launched out of Hollywood in a few months (“Nothing But Net”)
• Coaching one-on-one with new clients I decided to make myself available for this year – you guys ROCK!
• And spending ‘time’ preparing for more projects to be launched this year.

But my core focus (though it may seem dizzying …and it is!) has been to organize my ‘stuff’.

I have a lot of wonderful ‘things’ I LOVE, that I have collected while traveling. I have a lot of seasonal stuff, or ‘once-every-now-and-then’ stuff (such as backpacking, camping equipment, etc). And a lot of ‘entertaining’ stuff (of the kitchen meals variety, not the kinky kind… )

I have nephews I want to spend more time with, so there is ‘stuff’ for them for when they are around at my home. I have stuff. Lots of it.

The last time I had a garage sale (about a year ago), there was a constant remark from the ‘bargain-hunters’ saying “this is the best quality garage sale I’ve seen!” So I decided to limit what I sold there, and kept some of it, gifted some of it, donated some of it, and still store some of it with the intention to ‘some day’ sell it on eBay.

So, my stuff is getting organized.

Also, the stuff in my head. Lots to brain dump:

• Home
• Business
• Property Portfolio
• University
• …and even my personal life

So, I thought I’d share one of my core strategies in getting organized, because it is a regular question posed to me, “how do you do it? How do you travel so much, have a home, have a business, properties, animals, a life… and stay sane?!”

I like to be organized, even if it involves short term ‘organized chaos’. Sometimes you have to allow that frenzied space to simply get on with things… or you become stuck in being in a ‘zoned’ prison. But I also function better when my space is organized, free of clutter and easy for me to access when I need or want it.

So here’s my core mind-mapping strategies:

• Mind map everything you need to get done (whether you do it or outsource it, write it all down) – Freemind is a free mind-mapping software. I prefer MindJet, though it’s not free it has a free trial. I like it because it has compatible apps for the iPhone and iPad. What’s great about using a digital mind-mapping tool is that you can ‘close down’ the other tabs to focus on just one area at a time. This helps with overcoming overwhelm, by ‘chunking down’ what you need to do in to smaller elements…. ‘bite size pieces’
• Prioritize who needs to attend to each item/task. Can you delegate it? If so, to who?
• Prioritize what needs to be done by when. Date stamp the tasks with a timeline.
• Get started! Make the phone calls. Buy the storage boxes. Set up that eBay account. Etc.

To keep your sanity along the way, especially for organizing ‘stuff’ in the home:

• Create an area or a room (so you can shut the door) where you can pile ‘stuff’ up from other places, to re-organize, box-up, put into a ‘sell’ pile or perhaps to donate. This way you keep the rest of the house (or office) uncluttered.
• Start with a drawer or a small cupboard. If you’re not a natural organizer, it’s best to hone your skills and build momentum by starting small. Congratulate yourself when you’ve done each step. Even if it’s beginning with re-arranging the cutlery in your top kitchen drawer!
• Get help. Have a friend assist you or enroll family members to allocated areas.
• Create common sense zones. The things you use regularly need to be within easy access or reach.
• Keep the same theme per storage box. If’ it’s winter jackets, don’t throw in the Valentine’s Day underwear with it! It doesn’t make sense!
• Label storage boxes.
• Keep an itinerary – a list (or mind-map) – of what’s in each box, and where you have stored it. A digital list is easy to update, and access, so you can save time 6-months later when you want to find it.
• Make it a game. Enjoy it!

While getting organized takes some time to do. It ultimately SAVES you HEAPS of time, energy and frustration.

Another tool I use for organizing my ‘LIFE’ is Backpack it. That’s another topic, I’ll review for you another day.

In the meantime, get cracking on your mind-mapping, and start organizing your ‘spaces’ so you have a better quality of life by design.

~If this article was interesting, or you have a comment/feedback, please write it below in the comment box. Feel free to share this blog post with your friends~

Wooden Pens - Pele Signatures Hawaii

I’ve been dreaming of owning one of these stunning hand-crafted pens since May 2011, when I last visited Honolulu, Hawaii.

At the time, I entered the store at Pele Sigantures in Waikiki, Honolulu and met Crystal Amezcua (wife and owner with husband, Geoff who is the Craftsman of the pens). I recall that I had been at the end of my trip, and already bought a lot of gifts (including for myself) so hesitated purchasing one of the wooden pens, even though I admired them greatly.

Not getting one then was a mistake.

Over the many months since that trip, I often thought of their store filled with these amazing wooden pens (seriously, they vibrate with love and energy!). I dreamed of going back.

So when I got the opportunity a few months ago, back in November 2011, to book hotel accommodation in Honolulu for an amazing deal (through Living Social) I could only think of returning to this store (as well as hike and surf!). I booked my accommodation, flight and mentally planned to come back to choose my pen!

Geoff & Crystal Amezcua - Pele Signatures

When I walked into the store, Crystal recognised me immediately. Though, she thought it was only just before Christmas that I had been there.

“No, it was May 2011!”

She was shocked at the time passing so fast, yet we connected again immediately.

I perused the store, ‘feeling’ my way around for the right pen for me. It reminded me of when I selected my dog, Cooper-Kelly. She in fact selected me. It was the same with my pen. (See the first picture up the top).

But there are so many gorgeous wooden pens to choose from. And all in different price ranges, depending on the quality and age of the wood, and how much detail goes into the craft of the wooden pen.

Pele Signature Wooden Pens

Pele Signature Pens are handmade in Hawaii by Geoff and Crystal Amezcua, a young husband and wife team. Each pen is powerfully built one at a time to insure the highest quality of craftsmanship. Each pen is started by cutting and strategically placing the woods together in a beautiful and colourful pattern. The only materials used are all natural woods from all over the world. The stunning colours of all the wood are simply natural, no stains, dyes or acrylics are ever used. They use only their imagination to uniquely create and design each pen to fit any type of personality.

I know from my contact with Crystal and experience with her that their value of integrity is utmost important. In both the quality of the pens and also their customer service. It’s a rare experience in retail these days. So when you come across it, you feel like you are in heaven!

Probably the most intriguing is Geoff and Crystal’s story of how they got started with crafting wooden pens, and Crystal’s passion for their unique product, “a little piece of paradise.”

You can witness this for yourself here on the video below. Enjoy!

For more information you can visit
www.PeleSignatures.com
or call +1 808-212-3937 (Crystal).
While the website is available, it is being updated.
So please check in again regularly.

Note: You can order these pens from all over the world. If you are interested in viewing their selection, simply contact Crystal via email or phone and let her know what price range you are seeking. She will send you photos in an email of a selection available suitable for you (or as a gift for someone!).

Do you have an INCREDIBLE product or service that you’d like me to review?
Send your details in the comment box below and you will be
contacted shortly for further information.

Please note, I ONLY review products and services that I use and have an INCREDIBLE experience with.
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Sunrise from Diamond Head Hawaii

My jet-lag has me feeling disconnected with local time. I awoke early (again) at 3:30am this morning. A tad too early for my 6am pick-up for my hike up Diamond Head Hawaii.

With a little email catch-up, a meditation and some hotel-room organisation (ok, that really means folding some clothes I had shrewn across the second bed and floor the night before), the time passed by quickly.

As I was slinging my back-pack onto my shoulder and grabbing my room key off the bed-side table the phone rang. I almost laughed as the shrill of the old-style telephone rang out in my 80′s-style room. I actually hadn’t paid attention to the old-style original touch-phone sitting by my bed until now. I haven’t spent time at the hotel, other than to sleep.

Knowing it would be the reception letting me know the driver for the hike tour had arrived, I quickly picked up the receiver I answered, “Hello!”

“Hi Kathryn. Your driver has arrived.”

“Thank you,” I responded, thenhung up and headed downstairs.

Diamond Head Crater, Hawaii (Honolulu)

With a short pick-up of a total of six of us, we headed to the Diamond Head Crater car parking bay where our tour-guide parked up. He had been filling us in with amazing history of the island, Hawaiians, Diamond Head and local culture. As we got out of the car it was still dark. The rest of the group were much more senior to me, and not ideally dressed for a hike. It was clear they intended on a slow-pace up, while I was set to get some daily exercise with the experience.

Make Every Day Count

I was set with intention to witness the sunrise from the peak. The rest of the group were satisfied to get there just after sunrise, since there is often a large number of people at the top (and there was) for the spectacle.

So politely, I moved ahead and set up the side of the crater at a cracking pace. Diamond Head Hawaii is 763 feet above sea level, but from the car park (about 200 feet above sea level) it means it’s only about 0.7 of a mile to the top. While it has some strenuous sections along the hiking trail, I made it to the top in just over 15 minutes.

It’s worth the hike. From the peak you witness a beautiful view of Waikiki, and the mountainous landscape of Hawaii.

The sun rise was bold, bright, red and orange. Magnificent and magical. I whispered a prayer of “Thanks” as I experienced the blessing of a new day.

Life is so short. Every day is a gift. In years past, during my time as a Paramedic (8 years), there is a key message and lesson that I learned. Having dealt with death in every way you can imagine (and not imagine) and of every age from miscarriage – 103(!) I realised that NO ONE knows when their life-ticket number comes up, when we pass forward to another time/place other than this land we call earth. So it is, with this daily driving force, knowing that it is always possible that today COULD be my last day, I always consciously determines “how will I live today?!”

Gratitude… Appreciation… Truth… Integrity… Love… Creativity… Growth… Fun… Laughter.. Exploration… Adventure…  these are just some of the key ways I choose to live my life daily.

How would you live your life today (and every day) if you thought it was your last?

Who would you tell you love? Appreciate?

What would you focus on for feeling GRATEFUL?

What would you do to experience LIFE?

Who would you say a heart-felt apology to? Who would you ask for forgiveness?

What would you choose to laugh about, instead of focusing the minor (and really, unimportant) things?

What would you life truly be about?

Do you like hiking? Where are some of your favourite places in the world (or local to you) to hike?

Please feel free to leave your comment below…

2012 Internet Marketer's Caribbean Cruise

I’m battling to get used to my land-legs after just returning to land (and air) post my third annual Internet Marketer’s Caribbean Cruise.

Having flown yesterday from Fort Lauderdale, I’m now settled in Hawaii (O’ahu) for another week of adventure (next blog post).

I’m enjoying my first day hanging out in Starbuck’s, sipping coffee and catching up on emails, planning more for the up-and-coming re-launch for the Wow Adventure Club trip to Tanzania in July (2012), sorting through my pictures and video clips (hundreds!) and writing about my adventures.

So much to reflect upon. An 8-day (Internet Marketer’s Caribbean) cruise is intense: packed full of fun, adventure, mastermind sessions, networking, formal dinners, sunshine and interviews… and this time, I slept a LOT!

Having spent a week in Asia prior to this trip (Thailand and Laos) and still recovering from a serious bout of food poisoning (the offending ‘bad’ fish) I experienced a very different cruise this time. While I networked (this time deepening relationships with a few people instead of trying to spread myself thin meeting four-hundred people!) I ended up sleeping like a hibernating bear. I also took time each morning to go to the gym or walk the top deck (and stairs).

Would you believe that in the past two weeks I have dropped 7.8 kilos (17 pounds!!!). I feel terrific! Using the ‘bad’ experience of going through the trauma of the food poisoning (really it was a lot worse than I first made out), I decided to leverage off the ‘opportunity’ to keep the weight loss off and keep losing more. So I (almost) had no alcohol (I had a Panama beer and a few glasses of delicious Argentinean Malbec red wine), drank lots of water, ate consciously (a lot less) and had a diet of mostly vegetarian and raw foods. Working out daily was a huge factor in keeping my mind focused on my goal, and also helping with the calorie burn!

In addition to my health improving and body shrinking, I actually expanded my friendships even more this year.

The Marketer’s Cruise is such a great opportunity to network, have fun, enjoy adventures, mastermind, learn, contribute and be with like-minded people. For me, it makes cruising so much fun when you have one in 4 or 5 people on the ship as part of the internet marketing group. There’s always someone to meet up with, enjoy their company, have interesting discussions… and of course, plenty of time to be alone if you wish.

Marketing Cruise Formal Dinner

With all the sleeping that I had, it didn’t surprise me when I awoke early the morning that we docked into Costa Rica. At 3:30am my eyes pinged wide open and I just had to get up. First I spent a few hours on my computer with some writing, then really wanted to get up to exercise since we had a day tour planned for the port. Pulling on my gym leggins, sweat-shirt and joggers I headed for the top-deck to do laps since the gym didn’t open until 6am.

Feeling inspired by the clear moonlit skies and almost vacant deck-space I pondered about my day ahead as I kept up a power walk.

I was set for an adventure to go zip-lining and see the rain forrest with many of my fellow internet marketer’s. With the early morning routine complete, showered and exercised I headed for breakfast, always keeping an eye on the time. My ticket read “11:00am” for the tour with a specific instruction “Note: the tour is on ship time” (and Costa Rica is an hour earlier).

We didn’t even dock until 10:10am, but when we did I heard the ship Captain call over the intercom, “please, if you are not in a hurry to get off the ship, please delay your disembarkation as the gangway is very busy right now.” So I hung out in my room just chillin’ until about 10:40am. Then, with my camera and video ready in hand and backpack with my supplies for the day I headed off the ship, down the dock and arrived at the car parking bay to see only a few buses left.

Immediately I had a gut-feeling that something was wrong. I asked a few of the remaining bus drivers “do you know where I go for this tour?” as I handed them my ticket to view the details.

“Miss, that tour bus left awhile ago!”

Biting back my disappointment, I asked “What do you mean? The ticket says 11:00 am ship time. That’s 10:00 am local time and it’s only 9:50am here!”

The bus driver shrugged and said, “it’s not my tour.”

I didn’t except that as OK. In my world, if I can’t help directly I always find a way to help indirectly such as assisting with another solution.

“Well, can you do me a favour and call the tour company on this ticket with your local phone?”

He hesitantly dialled then handed me the phone. “Hello?” I asked as I heard the phone pick up.

His spanish halted and started speaking English to me. “Hello?”

“Hi,” I falter, “I’m calling regarding the zip-line and rain forrest tour for the Carnival Freedom group today. I have a ticket and was booked on. I’m waiting here at the dock but have been told the bus has already departed. How could that be so. My ticket says 11:00 am ship time?!”

He slowly asks, “did you book directly through us?”

“No,” I view the ticket for the name, “it was through Port Promotions.”

“Then sorry, I can’t help you,” and he hung up!

At this point I was biting back tears from now frustration stacked on disappointment. Stunned by the lack of customer service I turned to a local cruise tour director and explained my dilemma. He was awfully sorry for me but he couldn’t do anything to help me either, other than refer me to go back onto the cruise and have the information department call the company to see if they could contact them and sort it out.

By this stage another local tour operator was swooping on me to offer his tour, and persistent to have me join him. I very quickly brushed him off as I dipped my hat to cover my eyes, now brimming with tears of disappointment bearing down on my eye-line. There are plenty of times I desire and enjoy tours on my own, but today – with my heart so set on the tour with my marketing friends – I bound for the ship. I made a brief stop at the information counter, but the phone call proved fruitless as it defaulted to a message system. With no number to leave for them to call me back on I left my email and a brief message, and headed for my cabin.

It was an odd feeling to feel so much disappointment welling up. It was like the 5-year-old within me was activated, disappointed having traveled so far (from Australia) with so much excitement (having booked the tour months ago), to only ‘miss out’. But without tantrums, only sadness, I lay on my bed and allowed myself to process the feelings as the tears fell. I decided I must be tired, with the early morning activities, so I made a decision to sleep until I awoke, then perhaps go to lunch. It was 12:30pm when my eyelids closed and I fell into a deep sleep.

Then I heard the captain on the intercom, announcing the boat was about to leave the port. I looked at my watch and it was 5:30pm!!! I must have needed the sleep. And feeling grateful that I had rested. My body was still healing from the process of detoxifying from the ‘bad fish’.

So, though I technically found myself on the land of Costa Rica, it was a short uneventful experience for me. (I later explained my plight with Captain Lou Edwards and we discovered that my ticket was the ONLY one with the wrong time. While he has organised a refund and a compensation ticket for next year’s cruise, I’m a believer that all things happen for a reason. I think I needed that sleep more than I needed another zip-line, or rain-forrest tour.)

My trips to Cozumel, Mexico and Colon, Panama were eventful, enriching and interesting.

Cozumel, Mexico Internet Marketers Caribbean Cruise 2012

In Cozumel, Mexico I chose to go dune-buggying. The majority of the (almost) 400 marketers chose the ‘Beach Party,’ I figured I do a lot of networking on the cruise, and I’m one for trying new things (and adventure), so I gave it a miss this year (I was also avoiding the temptation of alcohol!).

There turned out to be only five of us from the internet marketers group who chose the dune-buggy experience. Being single, I teamed up with Ty and his wife Melida Cohen. Having just met on this year’s cruise, I got way more out the experience. The dune-buggying was fun, but ended up being a bonus as Ty, Melida and I connected with a depth of friendship only ‘knowing-old-souls’ do. We shared many discussions on heartfelt topics and life. I had an awesome day!

Also, since Ty is the ‘Kindle King’ (how to get your books published on Kindle) he was a huge inspiration for me to get my recently “How To Create A Vision Board To Get Results” webinar transcribed into an eBook. I took immediate action when I got back on board the ship, and accessed the satellite internet to contact my transcription outsourcer. Sending her the webinar replay with my instructions she aptly responded with certainty that I would have the transcription within a few days. I got it the morning I disembarked from the ship. So because of this awesome internet marketing cruise adventure I was able to have fun, and inspired by ideas and strategies I also got some very cool work done to get another product in motion for completion.

My experience on the tour of Colon, Panama was also amazing. Not only for the sites: rain forrest, monkeys and the amazing Panama Canals, but also for a few deeper friendship connections during the bus-rides and conversations. My connection with Mike ‘H’ was heart-warming.  He shared with me that when he first met me three years ago (on both our first cruise) and I explained to him then the value and strategy of a vision board, he went home and took immediate action creating his own. Since then he’s manifested his motorbike and car of his dreams along with so many other wonderful opportunities because he got clear on what he wanted. I welled up with emotion as I sensed his gratitude. It always touches me deeply when I discover or hear that I’ve made a real impact on someone’s life with my strategies and life-experiences that I like to share and pass-forward.

Mike and I bonding - sharing his Vision Board Success

Mike Dieure was also someone I met three years ago on my first cruise, but this time we had many one-on-one conversations. Such a genuine soul and a huge heart, Mike blessed me with several gifts this past week. In addition to his friendship, and knowing of my passion and dedication to my life-hero, Sir Richard Branson he gave me a wonderful gift.

"Screw Business As Usual"

Having recently purchased Richard’s latest book “Screw Business As Usual” he handed it to me with a beautiful message inscribed. Touched and grateful, Mike thank you for your kindness and being such an amazing soul on this planet!

Mike Filsaime & Katie Joy - Internet Marketers Cruise 2012

One more very special person I want to mention is Dee Tozer, my ‘adopted Godmother’. Dee is such a forward-thinking powerful woman, from Melbourne Australia. We met first in 2007 at an Anthony Robbins event where we chose each other as ‘buddies.’ From that experience our friendship and ‘family-tie’ was born. While we’ve sustained our friendship and connection via Skype, phone-calls and Facebook (thank God for technology) it’s been 5-years (since the event) that we’ve been in each other’s physical presence! It took getting her on to the Internet Marketer’s Cruise and us meeting in Florida, USA (the other side of the world from where we are both from) to see each other again!

Dee is such an inspiration to me, with her business acumen, her feminine energy and savvy smarts, and ever-curious mind. She’s delved into the internet marketing world in recent years with varying success and strategies. She is amazing! And not only did we get to catch up and spend a lot of quality time together (our breakfasts were fabulous one-on-one time) but her gratitude overwhelmed me for how much she gained by being on the cruise. (And Dee is also booked again for next year’s cruise!)

Dee Tozer and Katie Joy "The Global Butterfly"

I came across the annual Internet Marketers Caribbean Cruise for the first time in 2010, only several weeks before the event. My Australian friend Nikki Galagher (Nikki Blue at the time) posted out on Facebook that her cabin-mate was unable to go and who would like to come. I jumped at the opportunity, and have never looked back.

Each year, I am one of the first few who book as we GET ON THE SHIP for the NEXT year! With my cabin secure, and now three years of experience with this amazing group, I’m inviting you to come join us if it resonates with you. It’s one of the best ways to have fun AND make great connections while also getting brilliant ideas, having accountability partners and possible joint ventures.

You can book for the 2013 Internet Marketer’s Caribbean Cruise, and secure your spot here:

www.GlobalButterflyCruise.com

Come and enjoy this great adventure with us!

Katie Joy

“The Global Butterfly”