Happy 2012 Wise Women!

It’s so good to be back. Thank you to the many friends who have said they have missed me (so kind) and those who have contacted Wise Womens World to ask when I will be back. You made me feel a little bit special...

How was your Xmas? It probably seems like a long time ago now - especially if you have also noticed the hot cross buns and Easter eggs on display in the supermarkets! Does it seem crazy to you to have them on sale so early or is it just me?

About Me

I shared a wonderful Xmas Day with my family at home. Everyone was in a celebratory mood, there was a lot of love in the air, my grandchildren had fun, the bubbly was flowing and we enjoyed nothing less than a PERFECT day. We cooked the traditional style Xmas lunch while sweating profusely over a hot oven on a typically hot and steamy Aussie day. As usual, I stuffed myself silly with roasted turkey, glazed ham, incredible plum pudding and all the essential and non-essential trimmings and of course wore the silly paper hat from the Xmas crackers and shared the bad jokes.

I’ve stretched the tummy and now I’m finding that it takes more to fill me up and there is certainly more of me. My clothes are at least a size smaller than me now.  

I really, really want to get back into a moderate eating plan and cut out all those alcohol calories but I’m still catching up with friends and family that I didn’t get a chance to celebrate with before Xmas and I can’t be anti-social can I?....

New Year was celebrated with a small party of 6 close friends in the most amazing boat shed I have ever had the pleasure of dining in. We cracked open a bottle of French champagne, watched the amazing Sydney Harbour fireworks on TV (yes there is a large screen TV in the boatshed), as we toasted our mates, feeling blessed to be happy and healthy and living this amazing life. 

I hope you felt the same way as you welcomed in another year.

I enjoyed such a great 2011 that I don’t know I can better it this year but I'm sure going to try.

Even though I had a hectic year in 2011 I managed to fit in an overseas trip to Greece. I adore Greece. This was my third visit, I think I must have been Greek in a former life as I feel so “at home” there.

Ten of us started our amazing journey in Athens, flew to Kos to join a private sailing ship and sailed the Greek Isles.

This is a holiday dreams are made of and it felt like I was living the life of the rich and famous. I’ll share the adventure with you soon but here’s a picture to whet your appetite.

Me and Cathy aboard Zhepheria 11 on the Greek island of Kos

My 4 year old grand-daughter Liana, starts school this year and as I have spent every Tuesday with her since she was just a baby, I know I’m going to miss her terribly. I’m sure many of you are also sending your children or grandchildren to school this year too. Chin up girls and try not to cry too much….

Nanna James’ Simple (but effective) Kitchen Remedies.

Tumeric is wonder spice.

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Tumeric has been used for over 2500 years in India, where it was most likely first used as a dye.

The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease. That’s got to encourage you to think about eating it! I personally enjoy it mixed in rice and on egg salad…yum.

If you have any other ideas please share:

Words of Wisdom

You are always on the right path. Even if your life is not going to plan right now you are always learning and receiving. Where you are in life right now is where you are suppose to be.

New Year Resolutions

Do you make them? I usually do and I usually fail but it doesn’t stop me from making them. Because I have always done things at a whim and I have always loved spontaneity, I’ve decided to have a go at planning ahead. I am venturing into new territory and it’s a little scary…I’m going to give it a go. I have even tried to plan next Xmas! It hasn’t worked yet as my family are not ready to plan that far in advance!!

Visit Gigi

I’m very grateful to Gigi for maintaining the Wise Womens World website during my absence – a big THANK YOU Gigi!

Click and see what she has been up to.

Let's Giggle

You do know what would have happened if it had been three wise WOMEN instead of men, don’t you? They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts!

Thank you again to all our loyal visitors and I hope you visit me again soon. Please remember to be kind to yourself this year and always remember you are 100% worthy 100% of the time.

Cheers

Lana x

Hello Everyone, 

Just popping in to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

The past 6 months have been very busy for me but I haven't forgotten you and will write soon.

Love Lana

Hi and Welcome Wise Women

I hope you have been happy, healthy and making time to have fun.

My Week

Me at "Wise Women Talk"

I've finally recovered from our fabulous "Wise Women Talk" night. What a fabulous evening it was!

Our presenters included Phill Morandini - Oriental Therapist, Geraldine Georgiou -Celebrity Dietitian, Leigh Sargeant - my Personal trainer, Janice - Lorraine- Motivational Speaker and Michele and Sharon-Del - Absolutely Fabulous Stylists Team and our spectacular fashion parade from Blue Illusions Miranda. Our audience was very receptive and they were a great bunch of "wise women". 

The evening couldn't have been more enjoyable with our fantastic MC - Camille Vallo from Professionally Speaking at the helm.


Gigi, Camille and Lana

I'll let you know when our next one will be girls!


Here's some of the wise women.

Last week I was invited to give a motivational speech to a group of lovely ladies completing a "Life Experiences" course. I was looking forward to the day and was busy getting ready when I received  a message from a long time friend that her husband was in the hospice. I hadn't seen him for a couple months and I thought that his brain cancer was in remission, however, his cancer had worsened and he was now bedridden and unable to even speak. I was devastated!

Life can change in a blink of an eye can't it?

I don't know how I manged to motivate anyone that day as I was just so mortified at the terrible news.

I visited my distraught friend straight after the speech and we just held each other and cried. What else can you do?

My husband and I visited Bob that night at the hospice and was in disbelief at his deterioration. My husband sat at his bedside and held his hand. Their eyes were fixated on each other and I think it was a meeting of souls as that was their only form of two way communication. It was a beautiful union.

It was so difficult for us to leave him that night, as his life is near the end and we realised that it may be our last opportunty to share time with him.

How precious is our life? How special are our friends? 

It made us take stock of our lives and realise just how fortunate we are to be here and to enjoy good health.

If you are going through illness or are grieving at this time, I send you strength, love and healing wishes.

PS Please pray for my friend Bob.

Visit Gigi 

 
Gigi is currently travelling through China and I'm sure she's having a wonderful time.
Can't wait to hear her travel tales when she returns.

In the meantime, take a look at her description and photos of our  "Wise Women Talk" night. 

Wise Words
  
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

~ Mother Teresa ~

Until next time wise women,

Hi and Welcome Wise Women

I Hope you have enjoyed your week and found time to have some fun.

I’m really feeling excited about our upcoming event – “Wise Women Talk”.

It’s all about women and how we can look great, feel amazing and be inspired and enthused.

The show is at The Tradies Club in Gymea NSW on the 9^th March at 6:45pm.

Tickets can be purchased at the club for $29.90 including a 2 course meal, or by calling or emailing me – 0404 066 319 lana@wisewomensworld.com.

I sure hope you can join us.

My Week

Sailing into Sydney Harbour with husband and grandchildren.
I'ved finally stopped swaying after my cruise!
I want to take this opportunity to wish all the Lovers around the world a very Happy Valentines Day.
The florists and restaurants are expecting one of their busiests days of the year and good luck to them.

My hubby is not that into Valentine's Day so I took the liberty of booking us a restaurant so we can celebrate our love on a quieter day and at least I don't miss out on a bit of romance.

During the week I also celebrated my 56th birthday with a family breakfast cruise on the river - it seems cruising is the thing for our family this year. It was a great day and I loved catching up with my 4 gorgeous grandchildren again.

I'm such a fortunate woman and I am so grateful!

My Cruise

As promised, I am reporting back to you on my recent family cruise.

We had been anxiously waiting for this trip for nearly a year and when the day finally arrived, my son and daughter-in-law arrived at our home in a stretch limo to pick us up as they were celebrating their anniversary on this day.

Talking about going in style!

We even popped the cork of a bottle of French champagne and it was only 9.30 in the morning!

Boarding the cruise ship was an exciting experience particularly watching my grandchildren’s eyes light up in awe at the sight of this glorious looking liner.

We spent the afternoon and evening exploring the ship and watched in amazement as we slowly sailed out of Sydney Harbour on a perfectly balmy, summer’s night.

If you haven’t seen Sydney Harbour from the water - put in on your “bucket list”.

As the lights of the city faded and the blackness of the sea and night enveloped us, the ship started to roll.

By morning the swell was 7 metres high and the ship was rocking and rolling in a way that doesn’t make you feel good.

We were in the wake of Cyclone Vanna and her curse was causing many of the passengers and crew to be seasick.

It’s not a pretty sight to see that many people throwing up!

The medical team were kept busy administering injections to the badly affected.

The dream holiday was starting to turn into a nightmare…

The ship’s captain decided to change course to take us to calmer waters and the change of itinerary meant that islands that we were expecting to visit were taken off the agenda.


Mystery Island

Even though many were disappointed with the changes we were supremely happy to be back to smooth sailing once again.

The next morning we arrived in sunny Noumea and it was such a relief to be back on terra firma.

We took a trip on a petite train to savour all the sites that this charming French Island had to offer.

The next day we arrived at an unexpected island – Mystery Island. We could see the damage that cyclone Vanna had wreaked on this uninhabited paradise but it was still a spectacular, unspoilt piece of heaven.

All seemed perfect…until..

My husband and I decided to return to the ship an hour earlier than the last departure time as the burning sun was particularly harsh on my lily white skin. My daughter and her husband decided to stay behind to enjoy some ‘lone time’ on the island.

Soon after we settled back onboard, there was an emergency announcement from the Captains Bridge, informing us that the jetty on the island that had sustained previous damage from the cyclone had now broken away from the shore.

My daughter and son-in-law where marooned. “How would they be rescued?” I thought, feeling a tad panic stricken.

It took around 3 nail biting hours for the rescue crew to return the remaining passengers to the ship.

A sigh of relief!

The next day was spent in Vanuatu and we decided on an adventure trip that had us driving Mad Max style dune buggies through the tangled, tropical forest.

We took turns driving and my husband decided to drive through a huge puddle (a male thing) and it was so unexpectedly deep that a wave of stinking mud and (whatever else) flooded over us.

I was not impressed!

By the time the trip was over the sun had dried the mud on us and I could hardly stand up.

We had to be hosed down to be allowed back on the ship!

The last island we visited was Ouvea and it had been severely damaged by the cyclone. How sad to see such an idyllic, Melanesian paradise decimated.


Cruising back home

Our cruise back into Sydney was fantastic and we enjoyed spending precious time with our family and all that onboard cruising had to offer.

Of course we ate and drank too much – with midnight buffets and poolside parties, the temptation was too great to resist…that’s cruising.


Sunrise over Sydney Harbour

3 of my grandkids

Australian's Tears
 
Every time I turn on the news I see horrible, gut wrenching visions of mother-nature at her devastatingly worst. Floods and bush fires are annihilating this country of ours.

People have lost everything and are destitute. The anguished and tortured looks on their faces is heartbreaking to say the least.

And now that the initial shock is over, many people are feeling total despair and depression is becoming a real concern.

Australians that have not been affected by these horrendous events have joined together with such mateship and generosity of spirit to give a much needed helping hand or instead have liberally donated money or goods.

I am so proud to be Australian!

My heart goes out to the courageous victims of these disasters and I wish and pray that you are able to get your lives back to normal as soon as possible and that you are able to heal from your loss.

If you can help please contact http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

Visit Gigi


Cheers and happy b'day to you Gigi

Gigi had an exciting time on Australia Day recently – see what she got up to.

Also, a big Happy Birthday to Gigi’s this week.

Wise Words

Wisdom doesn’t automatically come with old age. Nothing does – except wrinkles. It’s true, some wines improve with age. But only if the grapes were good in the first place.

-      Abigail Van Buren

Until next week wise women –

“ Attend to any medical issues or health requirements you may have".  You need to make yourself number 1.

Luv

Hi and Welcome Wise Women

I found myself a Sydney Lifeguard on Australia Day

I hope you have all been keeping happy and healthy while I’ve been away.

My cruise around the pacific was awesome although we did spend 2 horrendous days in the wake of cyclone Vanna!

We survived though and enjoyed many fun and precious moments. I will share more about my adventure next week.

Australia Day


Happy 60th Joan

It was a double celebration for us this Australia day as my BFF (best friends forever) of 32 years, Joan Dilworth turned 60.

We celebrated the event in style on the luxurious Pontoon Boat on Sydney Harbour and had front row seats to cheer on the Ferry Race as we sipped icy cold champagne. It was a sweltering hot day but at the same time it was eerily hazy and appeared as though a sheer curtain had been draped over the city skyscrapers.

The weather did not deter the speedy ferries festooned in their patriotic green and gold colours as they clambered for line honours.

It was a magical day shared with special friends.


Joan was also "rescued" by a life guard

See Joan's story

Wise Womens World Goes Live!



Gigi and I are proud to announce that we are presenting a live show on Wednesday evening 9^th March - Wise Women Talk. It’ll be a fantastic event!

Our presenters will share their wisdom and expertise from fashion-styling/makeovers, oriental medicine, health and fitness, women’s medical issues, motivational women, diet (presented by a celebrity dietician), a fashion parade and of course - Gigi and I.

Amazing 67 year old World Champion Natural Body Builder, Janice Lorraine will be inspiring and motivating us with her amazing transformation and she will also give us some hints on how to ‘lift’ our face and smooth wrinkles with facial exercises.

Read more about Janice Lorraine…

There will also be lucky door prizes, giveaways and a whole lot of fun.

The show will be held at The Tradies Club, 57 Manchester Road, Gymea (NSW).

Tickets are $29.90 and include a 2 course meal and show.

Tickets can be purchased by contacting me on 0404 066 319 or email lana@wisewomensworld.com I hope you can join us as it’s a night not to be missed.

We proudly support Ovarian Cancer Australia.

Looking for Wise Women

We want you to share your story. You may think that your life has been a bit ordinary or you may have had an extraordinary life, it doesn’t matter – we want to hear from you. Contact us

Visit Gigi

Gigi has been working at full pace lately but she still manages to find time to enjoy her full and rich life.

See what she has been up to

Friends

Here is a little poem to all the friends that help make our lives better.

Thank You, Friend

Thank you, friend, for all the things
That mean so much to me
For concern and understanding
You give abundantly.

Thanks for listening with your heart;
For cheering me when I'm blue;
For bringing out the best in me;
And just for being you.

Thanks for in-depth conversation
That stimulates my brain;
For silly times we laugh out loud;
For things I can't explain.

For looking past my flaws and faults;
For all the time you spend;
For all the kind things that you do,
Thank you; thank you, friend.

By Joanna Fuchs

Until Next Week Friends –

Remember: Live your life with an open heart so that you can let people in to share in some of that love that you hold so deeply guarded in your heart.