… it’s been a little slow around here at the moment — I’ve just entered a period affectionately known on the streets as Crazy-Busy-Don’t-Have-A-Life-Outside-Of-Work Phase 567. It’s reverse awesome.

I have a whole bunch of journalists to attend to for the next week & a half — & then, once I get a night at home, a conversation with my man & a good night’s rest under my belt, I will be back on board & better than ever!

Until then, hold tight, stay sweet, be bright & love with all you’ve got… Oh, & feel free to chat amongst yourselves!

Exhausted kisses, 

Rach xxx

Photo by mnadi

1. Subscribe to the Bright Side Love Letter
If you haven’t already signed up, what better time to do so? Once you sign up, you’ll receive a special love letter written from me to you every week… sealed with at least 100 glossy raspberry kisses!  The letters are full of delightful & random pieces of information that only my ‘lovers’ are privy to, so to ensure you are always in the know, make sure you subscribe today!

2. Get your Tweet on with Twitter
Twitter is a free social networking site that basically allows you to micro-blog your entire life, which is fun & highly addictive! Once you create a profile, updates are displayed on your profile page & people have the option to “follow” you to keep up with what’s going on in your life.

For bloggers, the benefits are alluring: Twitter allows you to gain a more ‘personal’ connection with readers by providing a platform to deliver information that wouldn’t make it on to your site; it can generate inspiration for blog posts through discussions with other users; it can be a great tool for documenting random ideas/ personal thoughts that may be turned into articles; & finally, it can remind people to check out your blog posts through a feed that publishes your blog headlines after you write them. Despite all that, even if you aren’t a blogger, Twitter is the perfect way to stay in touch with friends, and with over 2.2 million accounts currently registered, it’s a must-have for social networkers & Internet fiends! Jump on board & follow me!

3. Download a Google Reader
Possibly one of the most ingenious inventions ever, a Google Reader allows you to keep on top of all your favourite websites through RSS feeds. If you are like me & have a plethora of websites that you regularly visit, I think you’ll find it’s an extremely handy tool to have! Taking bookmarking to a whole new level…

4. Check out Songfacts
Music lovers AHOY! Discover random trivia, lyrics, & fallacies & facts about all your fave tunes on this insightful site — or register & add your own take in the comments section! Very interesting indeed.

5. Join Last.fm
Although I haven’t visited my Last.fm profile a great deal lately (namely because I work in an office where I can’t really bust out the tunes I like to listen to!), Last.fm is a fantastic site for creating playlists with all your favourite tracks. I love using the site to listen to new music. I highly recommend you sign up today — & if you feel like checking out my profile, here it is.

6. Create a Flickr account
If you like any of the images that I use to complement my blog posts, you have to check out Flickr… it’s full of wonderful treasures! Create a profile, upload your pics (or not) & trawl through the site to find splendid snaps to add to your favourites. Helpful tip: once you have hit the ’search’ button, refine further by clicking the ‘Most Interesting’ tab. 

My profile is severely lacking images at the moment, but never fear, my new camera is here… so there will be plenty of pics to come!

7. Learn how to whip up an incredible meal on Taste.com.au
Containing recipes for every meal under the sun, this site features an informative ‘how to’ section, up-to-the minute foodie news, recipe book reviews & a menu planner — perfect for any wannabe domestic goddess!

8. Sign up for Notes from the Universe
… if you know what’s good for you! Compelling, often hilarious motivation delivered direct to your inbox five days a week — guaranteed to spark you up & make you smile!

9. Bookmark The Daily Motivator
I love Ralph Marston! His words are a lovely way to start the day, so make sure you check in for your daily dose of inspiration! Just like Notes from the Universe, I am a huge fan!

10. Get your star sign (with a twist!) on Soul Garden Video Horoscopes
Video horoscopes — what a novel concept, huh?! The presenter is super excitable & always makes me laugh! For other horoscope-related goodness, I also highly recommend Astrology Zone (in-depth & fabulous!) & Astro.com.

11. Get creatively inspired…
… on deviantART & ffffound! 

12. Unleash your inner stylist on Polyvore
I know I always bang on & spout the virtues of Polyvore… but it’s only because the site is so-damn-good! Create dream outfits & get inspired for your next shopping expedition; so much fun to be had!

13.  Get motivated to whip your booty into shape on My New Body
This site is a fantastic resource packed with information on health, tools to keep your on track with your fitness regime, workout programs, and informative articles. There’s even a forum, which is full of really interesting discussions. Check it out!

14. Grab a bargain on StrawberryNET
Full to the brim with discounted designer skincare, cosmetics & fragrances, StrawberryNET is a one-stop e-shop for all your beauty needs! Free shipping worldwide is a bonus; as is the 5% discount you receive when you buy three or more products. Yes, please!

15. Set Bright Side Lover as your homepage
Well, why not?! ;)

FTP-ing you some HTML lurve (hee!)

Rach xxx

Photo by algo

There is something new you can learn today. 
Learn the lesson well and carry the wisdom with you.
There is some improvement you can make today. 
Make that improvement and your efforts to do so 
will continue to reward you for a long time to come.
There is someone who would dearly appreciate a kind 
word from you today. Offer your kindness sincerely and 
often, and you’ll find your world growing ever brighter. 
There is a purpose within you today. Express that purpose 
through your actions and commitments, and you’ll know 
the sweet taste of true fulfillment.
There is a way for you to make a positive difference today. 
Change the world in your own special way, and you’ll find 
it to be an even more beautiful place to live.
This day is filled with many possibilities, and you are here now to live them. 
There is so much you can do today, and now is the moment to begin.

(Source: The Daily Motivator)

Love to all,

Rach xxx

GREETINGS MY AMAZING ONES!

I am in the best mood today — feeling on top of the world, even though I am furiously fighting off the dreaded winter flu. It’s been lingering, but I won’t let it get me! (although, a terrible strain of ‘man flu’ has inflicted a certain male at my house… ! THANK GOD I’M NOT A MAN, it sounds horrrrible…) ;D

• Just because Olympic Fever seems to have taken over the world, check out Fashion Olympics from foto decadent - it’s a really cute shoot with Lucy Liu. I’m in love with the shoes and red dress she’s wearing in the first pic. Ever since I bought my platform-sole stillettos in Melbourne, I have been magnetically drawn to these puppies in photos & magazines! They’re just so unbelievably comfortable for a sky-scraper shoe!
• London’s world-renowned Portobello Markets online - need I say more?! OK, I will… Pret A Portabello is amazing, and I want this, this, these, this & - what the hell - this!
•  7 Tips to Develop the Habit of Daily Exercise from Dumb Little Man. My big news on the exercise front is that I am getting a personal trainer to whip my booty & I was thinking of running a little “2 Week Bright Side Lover Fitness Challenge” where I provide you with tips & healthy eating ideas… Who would be interested in joining me on the fitness bandwagon? (there are plenty of spare seats, don’t worry!) C’mon, it’ll be heaps of FUN — and the way I see it, if we put ourselves out there and become accountable, we are far more likely to stick to it! We can start with 2 weeks and go from there… YES?!
• Free Beauty Tips has a wealth of beauty information for you to trawl through! So much fun to be had…
• V for Vintage online store ROCKS! I am coveting the binocular necklace & the solar bead clutch! WOOT!

And that’s all for now bunnies!

Air kisses & purple cupcake-eating unicorns,

Rach xxx

Poster by keri

In front of my computer sits a notice board with a piece of paper stuck right in the middle of it. On that piece of paper, in different fonts & sizes, are ten sentences that I have affectionately coined my “Ten Commandments” — ten truths that I like to remind myself on a daily basis. They are (in no particular order) as follows:

• ONE: Fill up my skin with myself. Become empowered with my own magic!
• TWO: Always follow my dreams. Take chances!
• THREE: Have a healthy mind & a healthy body.
• FOUR: Be honest, integral & true — no matter what.
• FIVE: Love deeply. Always keep love in my heart & regularly remind people how special they are. 
• SIX: Let go of comparisons! 
• SEVEN: Put service to others first & foremost… money will always come.
• EIGHT: Live a creative, meaningful, extraordinary (not ordinary!) existence.
• NINE:  Greet each day with a smile! Be enthusiastic & laugh at any opportunity!
• TEN: Show the world who I am!

Ultimately, these commandments reflect my core values & the things that are most important to me at this point in my life. I think it’s nice to draw ourselves back to what’s ‘real’ from time to time, especially when the idiosyncrasies & annoyances of daily life tend to creep in unwittingly sometimes! I have no doubt I will add or alter some of the commandments on my list as time goes on, but for now, I’m pretty happy with their message.

Soo… now it’s your turn! What are your Ten Commandments? What are your golden rules for living & loving life?

I would absolutely love to hear them! If you haven’t previously thought about articulating these ‘truths’, now is the perfect time to put it all out there! Sometimes writing things down can be really beneficial & spark off all kinds of inspirations & motivations; it’s just about giving ourselves a moment to sift through all the chatter in our minds & pondering what really matters to us.

You are all amazing (& don’t you forget it!)

Rach xxx