Your heart

Listen to your heart, it has all the answers; 

Lead with your heart, it will guide and light; 

Hear your heart, it speaks only the truth; 

Love with your heart, it knows the way. 

The Svelte Brown Fox 

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good 

A full Sunday of friendship and just being

And so it was, a full Sunday of just being and hanging out with Mr and Mrs Beaver and their gorgeous and oh so very special, newly welcomed baby Beaver. 

Time is a funny thing...there is never enough when it comes to spending time with these dear and darling friends and now their beautiful bundle of joy. Such time with them is always food for the mind and soul; nourishing, uplifting, sustaining.  

The only downside is having to say goodbye and jump back on a plane. Thank you as always for opening your home and hearts, playing Uber driver, ensuring I'm well fed and watered, for experiencing friendship and life as it comes, just being in the moment. 

The Svelte Brown Fox 

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good 

Sunshine and sand, stories and shopping, sustenance and shells...

When your gorgeous girlfriends come together, it's always going to be beyond a catch up, beyond a telephone chat, beyond a text message or FB post. Chat and catch up you do naturally, but it's the creation of memorable moments, it's the rewarding investment of time in the friendship bank, it's the uplifting, heart warming feeling you experience from spending time with truly gorgeous women.

Thank you to my beautiful girlfriends for our sojourn to remember in nourishing Noosa. From our in-house bubbles and palace delivered pizza Friday evening to Saturday's deluxe dinner at Noosa Beach House to our bountiful brunch Sunday at bella vista Bistro C, it was time together we all needed. Time with those friends who have been there by your side for many years; their listening ears, their supportive words, their inspiring support, their rock solid strength, their witty sense of humour. And yes our divine, deluxe digs definitely added a little bit of sparkle and fabulousness for TSBF, Princess Sienna, Piper Hibee and Sexy Legs Street Wise. A very big thank you to SLSW's brother for providing our "palace-esq" pad, our weekender - very generous and so completely fabulous! We "shell" return...

 The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

A seat at the table of your life

"The older I get the more I realise the value of privacy, of cultivating your circle and only letting certain people in. You can be open, honest, and real while still understanding not everyone deserves a seat at the table of your life". 

A dear and darling friend sent this quote to me recently and let me know there is a seat at the table of her life with my name on it. Touched beyond words with this heartfelt "invitation", a moment in time when your heart melts knowing the significance of such friendship.  This dear and darling friend is worth their weight in gold. Actually that's an understatement. The Lioness of the Collect Pride is one of the most remarkable and authentic humans walking the planet. Her heart is the size of the world's oceans, her strength capable of moving mountains, her loyalty felt like the warmth of an open flame, her friendship and love a unwavering gift.  To the Lioness of the Collective Pride, thank you now and always...your name is engraved on a seat at the table of my life.

 The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

Winging it

Going with the flow, winging it, a leap of faith....whatever you want to call it can be daunting experience to say the least.  However sometimes you just have to jump off the cliff metaphorically speaking, trust your internal intuition and know that Mother Earth will ensure the landing doesn't break you. 

Trusting your gut, your inner voice, your internal intuition, can be difficult. Especially when the "ego" is being tricky, trying to convince you of an alternative decision.  Non attach to what the ego is telling you, to what society is telling you, to what you think you "should" be doing.  Trust yourself and know it will be what is right for you. 

 The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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Closing the gate

As we ready ourselves to say goodbye to another year, I have been reflecting on the closing of another sort.  Earlier this year, the world's best mumma bear and I did exactly that. We closed the gate on my grandparent's property "Burnlea" which had created over 40 years of memories and numerous stories for our extended family. It was never going to be an easy few days, sorting through the final personal items belonging to my grandparents, in particular our beloved Poppi. But the time had come. The family home sold for another family to create new memories, the next chapter of stories to unfold through the daily comings and goings. 

It's well over a year when our beloved Poppi said goodbye to this life. He was a great man who literally wore many hats, however none more proudly than those of great-grandfather, grandfather, father and husband.  When a loved one leaves this earth, it can evoke many an emotional response. Usually it's a mixture of raw emotions ranging from shock, sadness, disbelief, grief, regret just to name a few. 

While the gate may be closed on that chapter of life, the memories and stories remain, cherished and loved by all those who helped create and ensure their existence - a beautiful gift which gives on a daily basis.  Thank you Poppi and Natty for your enduring, lasting gift and presence without physical being present. 

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

Calm and reflection before a hopeful, much needed storm

It's a hot day. The air is thick with the sticky and steaminess of summer. It's almost like you need to wave your arms before you, to wade through the stifling stillness, the muggy, humid air. A perfect opportunity to sit, be and reflect amidst the calm and wonder of mother nature's glory...

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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Le Gra...Made with love

Completely out of the blue and totally unexpected was this gorgeous, gift from my lovely new colleague to say thank you.  It is me who thanks you for your daily positivity, engagement, conscientious work ethic and valued friendship.    

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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Tickled pink to see my cherished friend

We don't see each other every day, every week and not necessarily every month. We communicate via text, phone messages and semi regular phone calls. Yet the bond, the love, the friendship shared between us remains no matter the length of time since our last catch up, whether in person etc. The water flows under the bridge yet we pick up precisely where we left off each and every time, like life has stood still. 

Piper Hibee thank you for making time in your super hectic schedule for a much needed fix of your heartfelt hugs, strength, wisdom, insight, compassion, thoughtfulness, laughter, sense of humour, sharing of stories, eloquence, understanding, empathy, unconditional and unwavering love and friendship. You are wise, intelligent, successful, respected, cherished, adored, valued and loved by all who cross your fabulous, uplifting path. Love you X

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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My love of learning shared with such gorgeous souls

Tomorrow marks workshop 10...sadly only two workshops to go. From all walks of life we are united in our love of learning, our love for yoga. Thank you to each and every one of you for sharing the journey thus far. Namaste x

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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Mates and milkshakes

Where on earth would I be without my dear mates and chocolate milkshakes?! It's always fabulous to enjoy one without the other, however to combine both at the same time...pure bliss.  A catch up with Stosyth is a guaranteed laugh a minute, thought provoking, topics aplenty, educational experience. I always leave thinking yes, laughter is indeed medicinal, I've just learnt something and we now have even more material for our podcast. As for the love of chocolate milkshakes, who knows where that love derives.  The Mockingbird J's Mr G thinks they take me back to a happy place from childhood and maybe that's just it - eight years of age, enjoying chocolate milkshakes and ham, cheese and tomato toasted sandwiches for lunch at the DJ's cafe in Sydney with the world's best mumma bear, my grandma and the bum gummer.  

Such gratitude and thanks beyond thanks for chocolate milkshakes and to Stosyth and my beloved mates for filling my cup with love, friendship and of course delicious sustenance. 

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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A mild case of nostalgia

A mild case of nostalgia: a condition of sentimental longing or attachment for a period in the past (source: the dictionary of life, according to TSBF).

It was always going to happen when I started to "declutter" my garage and study. These two rooms seemly act like magnets for the "stuff" we hold onto but rarely use or still need. I started pondering the past, the choices and decisions made to date, the journey through life thus far, a few tears here and there, feelings of frustration...the self diagnosis = a case of nostalgia indeed, level of serious unknown. 

The process of removing of those once sentimental items  from your life as they no longer fill your cup, is an interesting one.  Potentially it sparks some intriguing thoughts and reactions.  It did for me; definitely a case of nostalgia, moderate level of severity. 

I found myself fighting the thoughts, becoming increasingly frustrated with myself for thinking such things, for reacting in such a manner. But all the while knowing I just had to go with whatever was rising to the top, just be with the endless thoughts and reactions, but not attaching to any of it. It was hard to resist the temptation to bottle it all up in the name of being stoic, almost as though I wanted to keep my cup full of such thoughts and feelings which no longer help but hinder.  But what good would that have done?

So I just let go.  I called a cease fire, enthusiastically waving a white flag at my mind and the internal battle which was well underway.  Slowly allowing the process of letting go wash over without attachment to the thoughts and reactions, in turn lessening my case of nostalgia but increasing my level of acceptance and realisation just how truly grateful I am for what was, what had been but more importantly for what is now.

Hasn't society done this exactly this with the unrelenting and ever changing world of technology? It seems we move with the times without too much thought or reaction except if we feel an overwhelming sense of "need" to have the latest and the greatest. We don't attach and mourn the loss of those items of technology which no longer serve us in terms output and expectation. We don't really think or react to the change and the rapid speed at which it occurs.  We just accept it's the way of the world, update our technology as necessary and move on. Digital cameras may have resulted in the end of photography and film processing as we knew it but video didn't kill the radio star and even if it had, the case of nostalgia would have been mild at most. 

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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Tea for two

I so enjoy getting my hair cut. That fabulous feeling of your hair and scalp being washed and cleaned thoroughly, the banter with your hairdresser (TH) and the removal of the old and brittle, allowing the new and fresh to grow and flourish. To share a cup of green tea with the completely gorgeous, uplifting, super talented TH throughout the ritual...sheer bliss, making it such an uplifting occasion. Thank you gorgeous TH. 

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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The true beauty, joy and gift of unconditional friendship

Friendship, the invigorating tonic of engagement, almost always results in some of the most wonderful and memorable moments in time. What attracts us to certain people and why we connect and build amazing friendships is unique, hardly a cookie cutter formula.  There are those friends we have because of similar lifestyles or social groups, our friends we spend our working hours with, our friends we grew up with, our friends we went to school or university with, our friends we see or engage with infrequently but pick up as it no time has passed, our friends we make in those serendipitous moments, our friends we make through our parents friends, our friends we make through our siblings or through the friends of friends, our friends we make through our children, our friends who are also our relatives. 

I always smile and feel such thanks and gratitude when I think of my friends and the joy and love they give each and every day. Each of you are a gift, giving when you don't even realise through a myriad of ways...your time, your smiles, your words, your hugs, your laughter, your acceptance, your presence, your thoughtfulness, your wisdom, your insight, your patience, your compassion, your heartfelt gestures, your compromise, your understanding, your, energy, your tolerance, your listening, your trust and most importantly your unconditional love.  

And yes, like any relationships, there is give and take with our friends. There will be those friends you give more to and those friends you receive more from.  But that's the true beauty of unconditional friendship and the roles we play in each other's lives.  When we open up our hearts to such friendship, without a single expectation and thought of who is doing what and just be, we open ourselves up to an oasis of immense growth, joy, peace, compassion and love.   

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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Walking through life with those you love, in shoes that rock...and fit

Most Sunday mornings I engage in a soul enriching and completely fabulous ritual of restorative yoga, some golf and a delicious brunch (YGB) with two very cool cats - The MockingJ and her man Mr G.  Last Sunday was no different.  We talked, we shared, we laughed, we listened, we ate, we drank, we breathed. 

The only downside to this ritual is the absence of The Chosen One.  Thankfully we make up for her absence every few weekends with some seriously wonderful memorable moments in time. So much so the last time The Chosen One joined in, the ritual went from brunch to lunch to an aperitivo...salute!    

This ritual is one of many I have throughout the day, week, month and year involving those I love, adore and cherish, including those precious moments by myself.  Some days the walk through life seems more like a crawl, a stroll, a sprint, a marathon and the road varied from smooth, bumpy, hilly, straight, curvy.  However when your walk is shared with those you love, embracing each day for what it brings, while wearing shoes that rock (or no shoes even), life is good regardless of the speed, the hills and the pot holes along the way.

 

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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Just say yes and go with the flow

Impromptu, unexpected, extemporaneous, unplanned, spontaneous moments are always some of the best we experience in time. While there's a so-called "movement" to say no, it's just as important to sometimes say yes. 

While plans, structure, schedules, diaries aka organised chaos enables getting "stuff" done, ticking boxes and crossing off the do to list, it's also rather liberating to go with the flow, be open to change, new adventures and opportunities, have less rigidity in life, just winging it and see what happens. Sometimes the "stuff", the lists and the boxes can wait. Maybe it's worth asking why is there so much "stuff" to get through in the first place? Why the need to tick boxes and certain ones in particular? And what's really important and requires doing on the list?  

Saying yes or no can be a balancing act of sorts sometimes out of perceived want, need, have, guilt, necessity, expectation, desire. Therefore what is it you really want.  How, when, why, what, where and with whom do you want to spend and invest your time, energy, thoughts and feelings? Whether you say yes or no doesn't matter, it's saying yes or no to what fills your cup and remaining true to yourself, all while celebrating the little and simple things along the way which make you smile and remember life is good. 

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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A smile ensued always

Their delicate petals; their sweet perfume; their distinct colour...a smile ensued always. I don't usually buy fresh flowers however these gorgeous Jonquils and their perfume evoked such positive thoughts and feelings, I couldn't walk past without picking up a couple of bunches for the abode. Spring is in the air, how wonderful is that?! 

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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Filling your cup with thanks, gratitude..and loveliness

As the year well and truly ticks by (hello July), some days feel like they are an extension of the next, a night's sleep seemingly not enough to differentiate one day from the next. It's so easy to be sucked into the "busi-ness" of life, the endless "societal expectations", being consumed with the day to day and bogged down in the grind of the endless to do list. 

Potentially over time, this way of life leads to fewer opportunities to just be, maybe even forgetting to see and take time out to experience those little and simple things which make you smile. I know I have of late. 

So today is, as per every day ending in "y", a day of thanks and gratitude for each of these gifts and many more...

* pranayama and good health 

* unconditional love, hugs and kisses 

* drinks, dinners, brunches, lunches, deluxe spreads with those I love and cherish

* creative opportunities, education and freedom of speech

* making time despite juggling numerous balls

* encouragement of thoughts and endless ideas...then implementing them 

* being, learning and growing daily through yoga

* the Sunday morning ritual of YGB 

* uncontrollable laugh out loud moments

* delicious home cooked meals 

* those moments in time which really test and challenge yet strengthen you
* chocolate milkshakes 

* the empowerment to say no 

* being heard and understood

* fresh, clean water straight from the tap

* regular paddles with my squad

* the foxy little gift in the mail

* a room with a view 

* quality time with my beautiful godchildren

* banter over bubbles 
* rainbows which end in a pot of gold 

* the sharing of the most delicious birthday pea and ham soup

* patience and understanding with "the diary"

* leadership, support and continual belief

* little messages which warm your heart and fill your soul 

* beautiful sun rises, sun sets and moon rises

Thank you to my beautiful family, friends, complete strangers and Mother Earth for the little and simple things each of you do daily which fill my cup, make me smile and remember life is good, so very, very good.

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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A berry warm welcome back..

..you delicious additions to my morning breakfast. So good to have you back. Thank you for filling my tummy with your sweet goodness.

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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Peas in a pod

For me, like Father's Day, every day is Mother's Day. However I do love that this weekend, today in particular, provides a beautiful opportunity to spend time with family and friends.  Being in the moment, creating magical memories in time with our darling Mums. 

There are not enough words to express my love, gratitude, admiration and appreciation I have for my darling Mum, the worlds best Mumma Bear. And how truly thankful I am for our cherished friendship. Everyday you wear numerous hats, playing numerous roles for your family, friends, colleagues, everyone who crosses your path. And everyday you do it with such grace, composure, patience and love.  Your beautiful loving soul; your gentle caring nature; your ability to give when others would give up; your unwavering patience; your cheeky, ever so subtle sense of humour; your firm but fair attitude; your consistent, pragmatic, grounded, keeping it real approach; your gift for listening; your infallible strength; your amazing roast chicken dinners....salads, curries, cakes, biscuits. Food and meals generally Chooky haha. 

Thank you for filling my cup daily with our treasured friendship, laughter, understanding and unconditional love. The worlds best Papa Bear, the Bum Gummer and I are well and truly blessed to have you in our lives.  We love you dearly.  

To each and every Mum out there, thank you for the roles you play in the lives of those around you.  You are appreciated, you are cherished, you are loved.  If you're unable to see your Mum today - my own Dad, and brother included. Take the time to reflect and remember or say hello via the multitude of communication options available. 

Happy Mother's Day Mumma Bear. 

The Svelte Brown Fox

...celebrating the little and simple things which make you smile and remember life is good

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