Tips to escape a rut

Pulling yourself out of a rut is not an easy thing to accomplish.  If you're experiencing a rut that is preventing you from living your life to the fullest, here are a few suggestions to escape.

* Determine what is the cause of the rut.  This is not always easy.  However, it is necessary to escape the rut.  Be honest with yourself and find the courage you need to admit the changes that you need to make in order for things to change.  Eg: Are you in need of a job change, rehab centre or even to end a relationship?

* Break the habit.  Often it is the creature of habit in us that keeps us stuck in ruts.  Ruts can be mistaken for comfort, however they leave us less capable of adjusting to change when it does happen. It is both healthy and necessary to constantly partake in things that break the routine.  This includes alone time spent outside of working hours.

* Be aware that living your life by the motions will inevitably cause a rut.  If you are aware that living life on auto pilot causes those unwanted ruts in life then you know that shaking things up a bit is necessary to avoid them.

* Try new things.  Make the effort to do new things that you normally wouldn't do.  If you can't change the routine of your work life, expand your social circle and night / weekend activities to those of which you haven't yet tried.  Plan trips that you have always wanted to take.

* Lastly, know the signs.  Recognize when you are beginning to feel a rut coming on and make the effort and do whatever necessary to stop it from happening.  It is easier preventing a rut then getting out of one.

Marti Gras 2014 - Experience of a lifetime

This weekend found me escaping on an adventure to Sydney.  Ever since I was in high school I wanted to experience the fabulousness that becomes Oxford Street, year after year for the celebration of the Marti Gras Parade in Sydney. This year after over a decade of dreaming, my best friend East and I finally got there and it couldn't have met my expectations any more than it did. 

After an expensive taxi ride with an inexperienced driver in the chaotic Sydney traffic, we arrived to our hotel an hour prior to check in.  After they took a $20 key deposit we were introduced to budget backpacker accommodation to its fullest, complete with unmade beds, lack of air con, and a communal bathroom and toilets. We took a blocky so that the house keepers of The George Street Hotel could attend to making our room presentable. I felt a little embarrassed that I had picked the hotel, with it's appeal being extremely affordable and in the general vicinity of the street to be on! Surprisingly the room radically improved with simple comforts as little as made beds and fresh towels. My highlight of the room was that we had our own window with a view. It was a charming sight of an old style brick wall belonging to neighbouring buildings and a rickety old tin roof, but a view none the less. 

After an early dinner we arrived a good three hours before the parade actually begun to secure our spots along the front fence line so we wouldn't miss a moment of the experience. The event was pumping way before the floats made their appearance with team members hyping up the crowd in anticipation of the fun to really begin. 

Entire streets were blocked off with the help of police officers as thousands of people lined the sidewalks of Oxford St to watch as fantastic dance beats screamed from speakers of floats with countless out and proud people feeling the music and expressing their sexuality openly with a justified sense of pride on and around the extravagantly made floats. Groups of people hung the pride flag from their balconies as others sold them to spectators on the street. There was countless rainbow flags, crazy and colourful outfits, stunning drag queens, a celebration of same sex love and a mind blowing parade that tied them all together.

There was something for everyone: dykes on bikes, drag queens, mermaids, marching

bands, nuns, superheroes, leather daddies, lifesavers, fairies, go go dancers, federal police, navy, army, airforce, Delta Goodrem and to our pleasant surprise even an appearance of the ever so nerdy DR WHO and Star Trek fans out there, one of which was standing right beside me. I got an elbow to the arm that almost led to me poking out my own eye! We watched on as giant pink daleks passed us by with signs reading, "Exterminate Homophobia!"  It was nice to see the same excitement on Easts face as I got from drag queens or same sex couples outwardly being free to express their love for one another without judgement. 

After hours of standing on our feet unable to move (thanks to an ever so considerate mother pushing her daughter in between us even though she had lacked the patience to arrive early for good viewing) it didn't stop me from smiling like a Cheshire Cat at such an overwhelming display of equality. Unlike my legs, my camera gave up on me well before the parade was over.  Disappointing our inner party animals that enjoy a nice glass of rum and coke and a side of floor shaking music, we got some refreshments and retreated our tired selves back to our hotel. Even our eyes were tired from ogling at the gorgeous men of Sydney who made wearing contacts from 4:30am well worth it. There's some things a girl just can't not notice. 

Sunday found us at China Town, Darling Harbour, Tumbalong Park, Chinese Garden of Friendship and a free bus ride later, at Circular Quay. After taking in the spectacular view of the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge we enjoyed a nice lunch and had iced coffees as we watched the gentlemen pull out their umbrellas to guard their girls from the rain as the seagulls enjoyed showering in it. Such a small gesture that reminded me there was still romance in the world and that maybe chivalry wasn't completely dead and to my surprise, even that it could still possibly be just around the corner.

We managed to successfully use the train transportation to get ourselves back to the airport. Krispy Kreme and Boost Juice made the wait for our flight back to Cairns more bearable. I sit here now ignoring the slight rocking motion of the aircraft 30,000 feet up in the air and I look back on the entire trip as a wonderful confirmation that love is still very much the heart of life and that gay or straight, you owe it to yourself to open up to it completely.  Even if you've been unfortunate enough to have been hurt in the past, or have people looking down on you for being guilty of nothing more then being true to yourself.  If you are yet to find the love that lights your life, or the courage to pursue it, one guarantee is that no matter who you are or what your differences, you are worthy of it. 

I hope you all had an extremely Happy 2014 Marti Gras and that the sense of pride and freedom to be yourself doesn't just wash over you for the duration of the parade and Marti Gras celebrations, but ideally that it lasts you a lifetime. 

Little Ideas to Make Valentines Day Special

On a day such as Valentines Day small gestures are all it takes to make your partner or love interest blush with admiration.  Here are a few little ideas to spark your own imagination leading up to this Valentines Day.

• Make a card.  The cornier the better.  You can use sayings such as "We're a perfect match" and use a match box with only two matches left inside.  Google is a great source for easy and effective ideas.  The fact that you made the effort to make something from scratch is sure to impress.

• Make a book out of a deck of cards titled "52 Reasons why I Like/Love you."  Write different reasons on each card.  Bind the cards together with a ribbon and personalize the decoration of each of the cards.  

• Make heart or X and O pancakes for breakfast in bed.  Toast with heart shaped icing sugar also works a treat.  If you want to get really creative, try your hand at a heart shaped pizza for dinner!

• Create a collage or scrapbook with photos of you as a couple.  Plaster it with hearts and pictures of you and your partner in those moments that found you happiest and most in love.

• Share a bubble bath with heart shaped confetti, candles and incense burning.

• Plan a movie night with a collection that your partner loves, even if you are not in the least bit interested. 

It can be easy to get caught in the trap of taking someone for granted, even if it was never your intention.  Showing  your love every day of the year should be a given, but it's not always something  shown wholeheartedly.  Valentines Day is the day you can make the effort that every other day may have been lacking.  You don't have to spend extravagant amounts of money to make the day of the one you love.

Tips For Men on Online Dating

Joining up on a dating site can often be a daunting experience.  Not everyone knows the things that they should be aiming for and the things they should try to avoid.  Here are a few tips aimed at the guys out there who are trying to have a fulfilling and successful experience in the online dating world.

• Don't use pet names. Ie Babe, Sweety, Love, Hun, Sexy, Scrumptious etc.  Not everyone takes well to being called these kinds of nicknames.  Nicknames should be developed over time when you get to know the person.

• Read the profile of the person you are interested in.  This gives you the opportunity to discover if you are compatible, have things in common, or are generally interested in them beyond the physical.

• Take note of the intent of your interest.  If you are on the dating site for different reasons do not waste the other persons time.  Don't ask for a random hook-up if it clearly states on their profile that they are seriously looking for a relationship.  This will save not only your time, but theirs too.

• When responding to emails or messages do not make the other person do all the work.  Questions go both ways and not taking the time to ask questions about the other person leads them to believe you are only interested in them getting to know  you.  The whole point is getting to know each other.

• Always leave messages that can be responded too.  Often responses are not given to blunt answers or messages that do not lead to more conversation.  Recipients can easily lose interest if they feel they are not getting anything in return and appear to be doing all the work.  If you are not a great conversationalist on screen then your potential partner will be envisioning one LONG date if they ever agreed to go out with you.

• Take note of what is said in conversations.  Nothing makes someone feel more special then a person referring to something that they said a few days ago.  It shows genuine interest from the person talking to them.

• Leave the more personal questions for when you have been speaking for a while.  Respect that some people take longer to be comfortable getting into the more intimate details or even giving out their mobile number.

The Sex Bucket List:- 20 Things to do sexually

Almost everyone has a bucket list, whether it be physically written down somewhere or safe in the confines of their minds.  More often then not there is a item on the list that has a sexual nature.  Here is a bucket list solely meant for those naughty things in life that just can't be missed. 

1. On a running washing machine or dryer – Make washing your clothes erotic and get down and dirty while they are busy getting clean.

2. Have sex in the rain – Take a romantic kiss in the rain that one step further and create a new meaning to getting wet.  Slip and slide anyone?

3. In a tent – You’re in the middle of nowhere with the wilderness of the unknown just outside a flimsy material wall. Show em whose boss with your screams.

4. In your office – Wait until you’re the only one in the office and invite your partner to christen your desk... or better yet, your bosses!

5. On a water bed – Remember how fun it was to be on a water bed as a kid?... now imagine making love on it!

6. On an air mattress – Try not to squeak so much you wake up the people in the same room.

7. Under the stars – Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star......

8. On a trampoline – Hey, they were designed for fun!

9. At the drive in – Be daring and get it on in your car knowing you are surrounded by other cars. Movie? What Movie? :)

10. On a rooftop – You've tried sex under your roof, now try sex on it.

11. On a boat - Nautically Naughty! Time to rock the boat :) 

12. In an elevator – Get him up while you’re on your way up :) See if you can get him/her off before you reach the floor you need.

13. In a bouncy house - Colorful, big, bouncy and fun... No-one can resist stepping inside a bounce house and going wild.  

14. On an aeroplane – Start your next holiday of with a bang and join the mile high club.

15. Have a threesome - Hot, Hot, Hot.

16. Use a sex toy on someone else – Add a little buzz to your love life.

17. Have a one night stand – Spend the night with someone you don’t know. A one night stand can be a pleasurable experience filled with thrilling excitement.

18. Have sex with someone younger – Every woman should have sex with a younger man. Their energy and enthusiasm will make you feel younger than ever.

19. Sex in a foreign country (with a foreigner) – Find a new way of communicating. Sex is a language we all understand.

20. Be a sexual slave for the night – Have your partner command you with sexual requests for an entire night. Everything that’s asked you must do.

How To Avoid The Drunken Dial

When you're out on the town with your friends or just having a girly cocktail night at home, it can be hard to resist the urge to call your latest crush or ex boyfriend with the new found confidence that has emerged with your alcohol consumption. These calls can leave you with regret and embarrassment for days after when you have slept off your drunkenness. Worst of all, sometimes you don’t even remember what was said. So even if something of significance was discussed you would not be able to remember it anyway. This can be particularly regretful or embarrassing if the person that you have drunk dialled was sober at the time of your slurring conversational skills. Drunk dialling can be extremely difficult to avoid, but here are a few suggestions to help you with the avoidance.

1 Control your drinking. Number one is quite obvious. If you control the amounts of alcohol you consume you will have better control of your actions which will ultimately mean better judgement calls and hopefully these calls will stop you from getting stuck in the drunk dial trap.

2 Entrust your phone to a friend. Choose a friend who will be able to keep your phone safe. It also has to be a friend that won’t give in to your pleas. This person should be someone who is capable of determining what calls are genuinely important. Your phone should not be returned until you have awoken and sobered up the following day. The phone carer must also be someone who is responsible enough not to lose your phone either.

3 Leave your phone at home. If you know that you have no self control and that your friends give in to your whining way too easily, sometimes the only answer is to leave your phone at home. Make sure that your friends have access to their phone or a public phone so you are able to call a taxi or designated driver to come and get you at the end of the night or early hours of the next morning.

4 Delete problem numbers. Sometimes you have no option but to have your phone on you in case of emergencies. Try writing down problem numbers from your phone before deleting them so that it is impossible to drunk dial certain people without first finding the piece of paper that you have documented their number on. Potential drunk dial receivers are anyone you may have feelings for, your ex or anyone you are mad at.

5 Phone Applications. There are several different apps that have been created for your phone to stop you from making this mistake. Check out the options that are available for your phone type to help you prevent making yet another drunken call.

Interview with Kristy Berridge

For those unaware, we are privileged to have one of the most talented Australian authors within our midst. Kristy Berridge is the author of such novels as "The Hunted," "The Damned" and most recently "Diary of a Teenage Zombie."  Possessing the ability to write original supernatural fiction novels is among her many talents.  My favourite thing about Kristy's work is that I know it will be nothing like I have read before.  To celebrate her recent book release of  "Diary of a Teenage Zombie," (of which I am totally in love with!) I have asked her to do an interview for my blog so that I can share her creations with the world.  My interview with the lovely Kristy Berridge, went a little something like this......

If you could work with any author who would it be? 

I have absolutely no idea. Writing is very much a solo act. So to collaborate with someone might actually annoy me, but I’d love to pick Stephen King’ s brain, find out where all those kooky ideas come from.

Who is your favourite author and is your writing style similar to theirs? 
I love Richelle Mead, and though I’d love to say I was as talented with the written word as she, I think we all have our positives and negatives.

What do you think people search for in a book?
Total immersion—a chance to escape reality for just a little while.

Did you always want to write?
I’ve always had an interest in writing, but no. I’m actually a fully trained Interior Designer, so creativity does run through my veins.

Do you have any advice for other writers? 

Read as much as you can, never think you are so good that advice is unwarranted, and always make sure you have a fabulous editor. If they’re good, they’ll tell you when you’re not, but also offer the best advice on how to fix it.

When and why did you begin writing?
I started writing about seven years ago now, and truthfully it was to abate boredom. I’d always had an interest, an idea bloomed, and since I was sitting in front of a computer at the time, boom, the magic happened and I couldn’t seem to stop.

Which is your favourite of the books you have written?
Tricky, tricky. I love The Damned in the Hunted series because the story finally grabs its momentum, but I’m especially proud of Diary of a Teenage Zombie. I feel good about the humour, the plot and characters.

What do you think makes a good story?
Good ideas, good editing and trust in the reader’s ability to interpret your vision without constant repetition.

What about the horror genre interests you?
Are you kidding? Everything.

Do you remember the first horror book that you ever read?
RL Stine’s ‘Goosebumps’ series. I absolutely adored these as a kid, but quickly moved onto the likes of Dean Koontz and Stephen King before long.

How do you react to a bad review of one of your books?
You have to take it in your stride. Not everyone is going to appreciate your efforts and that’s okay. I always contact the person in question, thank them for taking the time to read and review the novel and wish them the best of luck. It’s worked well for me so far, and I often receive some feedback that helps me to reassess my own writing.

What book are you reading now?
I’m being lazy and not really reading anything at all at the moment.

How do you cope with writers block?
I’ve never suffered from writer’s block because I always jot down ideas when they come to me, so there’s something to work with in dryer moments of incoming inspiration.

If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?
Kristy Berridge?

My life is an ongoing novel, so the question mark pretty much covers every new day and the unknowns I’ll undoubtedly face. It’s exciting though.

I suspect I’d come up with a much better name given the time and the desire to do so J

Who is your favourite character(s) in any of your works? And why?
I love Lucas Manory. He was written as a supporting role to Elena in my Hunted series, but is fast developing his own agenda and blossoming personality. He’s very likeable on so many levels.

How do you feel while you're writing? 
At peace, though I feel as if all I do is edit lately grrrr.

What was the hardest part of writing for you?Marketing and promotion. Honestly, I’m rubbish at it. I want the books to sell themselves and that’s not exactly realistic, or so people keep telling me LOL!

How do you keep your plots unpredictable without sacrificing believability?
Why thank you, and I’m not entirely sure how to answer that. All I can say is that I really put myself in the character’s shoes and think about who they are, what they think, feel or do in any given situation. If it seems ridiculous, then it probably is.

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Website: http://www.kristyberridge.com/

Blog: http://kristyberridge.blogspot.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hunted/116951581718393

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristyBerridge

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kristyberridge/

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4962350.Kristy_Berridge

Look out for these best sellers at a store near you!

THE DAMNED—Book Description 

Life for Elena Manory skipped past ordinary just over a month ago. Discovering she was born a practically invulnerable vampire-werewolf hybrid was shocking enough; but she’s also become a target, hunted by an Alpha werewolf known as Roshan, who’s fixated on the properties of her unique blood and the pleasurable possibilities of her flesh. Moving to the Institute of Magical Intervention in Romania was supposed to provide her with protection and anonymity, but Elena soon realises her enemies are legion. No one is who they seem, no agenda truly without nefarious intentions. A strange twist of fate and the actions of a vampire previously pressing for her affections lead Elena into the arms of another—one whose middle name spells trouble. Himself a vampire, Sebastian is handsome, arrogant, and perplexingly familiar. He introduces Elena to a world she never thought possible, uncovers a past believed buried, and unearths a future she may not survive.

DIARY OF A TEENAGE ZOMBIE—Book Description

Dear Diary. Today I ate the mailman. My bad. 

Being seventeen is hard – Katie Palmer has to deal with school, pimples, hormonal boys, and malicious cheerleaders. After the Zombie Apocalypse, though, she no longer sweats the usual teenage drama. 
Athletics star by day and flesh-eater by night, Katie’s done well to hide her transformation from friends and Zone-sanctioned security, but now someone or something’s onto her secret and if she doesn’t feed soon she’ll start falling apart. 
Dead bodies are piling up and all the evidence points to Katie’s blood-stained hands. Will she end up killing the competition before security discovers she’s rotten underneath?