Archive for 2010
Giveaway: The Separated Woman’s Guide to a Bright Future
Today in honor of International Women’s Day, we have a special guest post and book giveaway geared toward women — separated women, in particular. Just leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. (CET) on Sunday, March 14, 2010 to be eligible for a free copy of The Separated Woman’s Guide to a Bright Future.
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Annette Jones is the author of The Separated Woman’s Guide to a Bright Future. In addition to being an author, Annette has an adult teaching degree, has trained as a Practitioner and Master Practitioner in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), and now has a private consultancy practice and also conducts two franchises in the retail environment.
Annette was born in Manchester, England and moved to Sydney, Australia with her parents at the age of eight. In 2000, Annette married her second husband, but after a separation, divorced in 2006. She is now enjoying the fruits of her journey and has a happy, loving relationship on the Gold Coast after previous stays in Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, Queensland, and Brisbane.
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Hi and Welcome! My book is written to support and guide women through the process of separation and divorce and to inspire women to empower themselves through one of the most challenging parts of their lives. Lots of info, lots of ideas… and lots of fun; this book can help turn lives around!
Before writing my book, I spent many months researching databases on women’s issues and stories and interviewing a range of women who were divorced, separated, married or single. One overwhelming thing came from all of this: that women need to nurture themselves and each other to take control of their lives, loves and futures.
My book developed in three sections:
1. A practical guide to separation: What to do about property, children, money etc.; seeking legal and financial advice from trained professionals who have your best interests at heart (not the dearest but the best for you).
2. Your time following a break up: Nature and nurturing yourself, healing, dreaming, doing and finally re-entering the world of fun and love small steps at a time.
3. Socializing, such as dancing and dating: Whether it is the Salsa, burlesque, jazz, Belly Dancing, Latin Dancing or Tap, go for it! You’ll be amazed what it brings out in you.
This book will make you laugh, cry and think, and I will definitely help you “act.” If you’d like to act right now, here is purchase information for the book.
Some quick tips for “How to Survive Separation”:
Do:
1. Attempt to work things out for property settlement with your former partner.
2. Be realistic and get the facts about your entitlements in a property settlement.
3. When you decide on a property settlement, do have a solicitor advise on the settlement.
4. Monitor your children (if you have them) for behavioural changes.
5. Make time for yourself every day, time to nurture and care for yourself.
6. Do surround yourself with supportive friends and family. Girlfriends are wonderful at this time for you. They’ll support you, entertain you, laugh with you, cry with you or just be there for you.
7. Do take a moment, take several moments to sit quietly by yourself and ask, “Where would I like to be two years from now, what would I like to be doing, where would I like to be living, and how do I want to be feeling?
8. Get Grateful. What DO you have in your life right now that you are thankful for? Make a quick list of 10 things.
Don’t
1. Necessarily employ the best family law solicitor money can buy or one with the most impressive credentials and experience, as your partner may just use a common law solicitor.
2. Don’t speak ill of your former partner.
3. Don’t go on a spending spree.
4. Don’t jump into a new relationship straight away.
I hope you enjoy my book, and I would like to leave you with a final quote:
Find out who you are and do it on purpose.
~ Dolly Parton
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Thanks Annette! Remember to comment to enter the contest,
and Buona Festa della Donna!
Buon Compleanno Papà!
Tanti auguri a te…
Tanti auguri a te…
Tanti auguri a Babbo…
Tanti auguri a te!
Ti voglio tanto bene Papà!
Love Thursday: Love with Frost
Friend and faithful reader Lucy of On My Way 2 Work and Other Stuff sent in a this adorable photo:
with the note:
Here is the frosty heart inside my car window one Saturday morning. My windows frost over inside and outside if I don’t park it in the garage! But this was nice to see and reminded me of you!
So sweet! And, in turn, this photo reminded me of one of my favorite poems by Robert Frost:
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Somehow this poem always manages to give me a warm fuzzy despite the cold overtones. Frost was truly an amazing wordsmith.
What are your favorite poems?
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
Calabrese Proverbs by Month: March
I love proverbs in any language, but there’s nothing more pleasing to my ears than Calabrese proverbs…and man do they love to talk about the weather.
Here are three you’re likely to hear around Badolato throughout this month, the first two in dialect, the last in Italian:
Badolatese: ‘U friddu ‘i Marzu trapàna u cornu do voi.
Italiano: Il freddo di Marzo penetra nel corno del bue.
English literal: The cold of March pierces the ox’s horns.
English loose: When it’s cold in March, you’ll freeze your arse off.
One more basic and to the point:
- Badolatese: Marzu è pacchiu.
- Italiano: Marzo è pazzo.
- English: March is crazy.
And to elaborate on that point:
Italiano: Arriva marzo pazzerello; esce il sole e prendi l’ombrello!
English: Here comes crazy March; the sun comes out and you grab your umbrella!
It is true. March weather really does tend to be rather pazzo. It seemed to start in February this year with several days of both sunshine and rain, so we’ll see what this year brings. So far so good!
What are your favorite proverbs (in any language)?
One Year with Pasqualina
Today marks one year since our kid Pasqualina came to live with us. This was then:
And this is now:
And just for fun, another from about a year ago:
And today:
I guess I can’t really call her a kid any more now that she’s ready to have kids of her own. Yes, that pink you see up there on that second photo is our Pasqualina filling up with milk. We expect kids in mid-March or so, but we’re not quite sure of the date of spermination (the buck was in the pen for a month).
What a year it’s been…can’t wait to see what this next one brings!
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
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