The Secret to Power Shopping

You might be shocked to learn (even horrified) that I traditionally do all of my Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve.

I stumbled upon this oasis of a shopping experience a few years ago when for some reason or another, I was forced into the stores the eve before Christmas. I was astounded to witness how few people actually shop for gifts on this day.

So while the masses have migrated from gift traps to supermarkets and bottle shops (aka liquor stores), the few that are brave enough to leave it to the last minute are rewarded with relative tranquility.

Today I did my shopping a day early and started my quest at 4:30pm this afternoon and was in the car soon after 6pm. Done and dusted. Yep, that's right, all done.

So what's the secret to power shopping?

It's about being open minded and seeing what appears. I liken the experience to hunter gatherers. Hunters know what they want and go for it. It might take days to get their kill, but they are dedicated to the hunt. They'll do whatever it takes to claim their prize.

Power shoppers are gatherers on a mission. They are exploratory by nature and tend to fossick through what might appear as random objects, searching for what would appeal to the intended recipient. They go to the quiet corners, bottom shelves and generally have an open mind and allow the gifts present themselves.

Have faith and listen to your intuition.

When you have a limited time, you get into a zone. No distractions. You are there with a purpose to fulfil. It's amazing how much you can get done in such a short space of time. Notice your feelings. There'll always be an indication as to whether you're on or off the right track.

I have to admit, I was a bit clumsy at first and purchased things despite my gut saying no. My head was all too quick to settle with an "it'll do", then I'd go around the corner and discover the perfect present and my gut would spit out "see, I told you so!". Then I'd go into damage control and manage my post-purchase dissonance - usually by getting a refund for the not-so-perfect present. A slight time-waster, but a small price to pay when you have the entire shopping centre to yourself.

So that's it, all my shopping done in record time and a day early. Fabulous.

Until tomorrow, learn to maximise your time during the silly season and get tips from an expert ;-)

Grace xx

Hush hush - the secret is soul

Last night we had a sleep over at our nephew and niece's house (okay it's their parent's house, but don't tell them that).

After having spent over two months overseas, we had a lot of playtime to catch up on.

'Stacks on' was the most popular game of the evening (imagine layers of people stacked like a pancake with laughter as the syrup) that had us all giggling uncontrollably.

It was getting late for a school night and instead of tucking the little ones into bed, we were invited into the kitchen corner to engage in a hush hush conversation.

"You can take him tomorrow if you want."

"Pardon?"

"We give him one teacher-free day each term and he hasn't taken one this term." And with that, we had permission to take our young nephew out on the town for the entire day (his sister is still a little too young for such an expedition).

We decided to have lunch at Lucia's (pictured above) - a culinary institution located in Adelaide's Central Market. I have long been astounded at how food alone, was able to carry the original 70's decor of orange Formica tabletops and brown vinyl chairs through the ages.

This Italo-Adelaidean icon has gone through three generations, withstanding the pastel 80's and minimalist 90's influences, to have come full circle and be regarded as funky retro in the new millennium. Now that's what I call standing the test of time.

I often wonder what has been the secret to Lucia's success. What I come up with is soul. Sure you can talk about quality produce, consistency, value and not giving into to fads and whims - but it's soul that gives it resilience. It is soul that has seen it live on.

Then I thought about our time here in Adelaide.

While we came to Adelaide for work, we took time out on a 'school day' to have a sit down lunch with four generations of Patrick's family (him, his mother, grandmother and nephew). Sure there are other things each of us could have done that were high on the list of priorities, but we chose to spend time together - and that my friends, is soul.

Until tomorrow, may you inject soul into your everyday life and realise that what lies beneath it all is something else that stands the test of time - family.

Grace xx

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Excuse me while I fix your life

Don't you just wish that you had a personal fairy, who is completely at your disposal, that could just whisk in solutions and wipe out problems?

There's so much new age literature, websites, DVD's, seminars and workshops claiming that we do in fact have such a fairy... it's called THE UNIVERSE. Some claim it's a secret, but is it really (a secret)? ... and is it really real?

We are to hold the vision and feel the emotions as though we already have it in the present, and voila - it becomes a reality... but does it?

When I first found out about 'The Secret', I had so much evidence to prove, without a doubt, that it worked; prime car park positions, people serendipitously coming into my life and the sudden materialisation of money when I needed it most (albeit $2 on an Instant Scratchie).

But now I wonder... is discovering the laws of attraction like discovering how many people drive the same car as yours the moment you purchase it? And just as you stop noticing your car's doppelganger at every traffic light over time, you cease to notice 'the secret' at work. And just because you stop seeing it, you stop believing in it... is that what happens?

Perhaps I'm being impatient.

Many years have passed since I was to be on the cover of TIME magazine for being the first children's author in history to sell over 1.8million copies of her first book in its first year. I was to have received a royalty cheque of $1.8million that would set up my eco-organic healing retreat specifically aimed at treating diseases created by self-repression (read that again).

The retreat was my version of an ashram, where people were not excluded by their finances and would contribute to the growing of food and maintenance of the property. It was located somewhere in Queensland, or Bali (that detail was negotiable), where the mountains met the sea. A joyful yet disciplined place, where it was mandatory to participate in activities like karaoke, finger painting and dress ups.

I was to have had a miraculous conception that lead to the natural birth of a healthy baby (or babies, also negotiable). I was to document my baby miracle in an inspirational tell-all book, which was featured on Oprah's Book Club (not to mention becoming a New York Times bestseller). I was then invited on the Oprah Winfrey show where audience members were instructed to reach under their seats to receive their free copy of my fabulous book.

As you've probably deduced, I had a detailed vision which, incidentally, covered the walls of my pre-renovated bathroom. I'd study the wall every time I had 'business to attend to' with absolute certainty it would manifest.

Then there came a point when I felt foolish. After time, and a series of setbacks, I reached a point where I began to feel the same embarrassment as I did the day I found out that believing in Santa Claus was for children. How could I be duped - again?

Hold on. Let's look at this more closely. So long as children keep believing in Santa, they keep receiving... does Santa's true identity really matter to the child that continues to receive what they're wishing for? Hmmm....

So if you are a fairy, or know a fairy, who has a bit of time to fill and several wishes to grant, I'd love to receive a visit. Nothing would please me more right now, than hearing the magic words, "Your wish is my command" or even better, "Please excuse me while I fix your life" ... I'd say, "Go right ahead, be my guest!"

With thanks and fairy dust to you.

Until tomorrow,

Grace xx