What a way to start 2012 with a 14 day road trip to Darwin visiting current and making new clients & friends! Hervey Bay, Mackay, Cairns, Townsville, Mt Isa, Tennant Creek, Adelaide River then Darwin!

The picture to the right was taken when we hit the 130km section of the Barkley Highway in the Northern Territory – Jeanette “Queen of the Desert!”

My friend Jackie that I used to work with at the Casuarina Club in Darwin was visiting her parents on the Sunshine Coast for Christmas and we thought what a perfect opportunity for me to join her for a road trip back to Adelaide River where she is a teacher.

And so the fun had begun!!! I really had the time of my life and may need to make this an annual event! If you really want to see our beautiful country hit the highway!

Thank you Jackie for the awesome company, adventure and goal setting!!! xoxoxo

Awesome to see Lee and her family in Cairns with some amazing photography being taken by herself (One Little Picture) and Jackie on our adventures. They are both very talented with their SLR camera’s!!!

It was fantastic to see my friend Helen in Adelaide River also and her gorgeous children plus use the secret gym.

It was also sensational to catch up with all my old friends and work colleagues from The Casuarina Club (Lucy, Jackie, Julie-Anne & myself the original Rockette’s from 10 years ago! + Kimmy, Tommy & Fred!) xoxo

Also a big thank you to everyone for their hospitality on the trip, without the support crew this trip would not have been such a smooth and outrageous adventure!

Through use of the Internet, I / Design House am able to service clients statewide and nationally, staying in touch as if they were right next door. Utilizing today’s modern technology and freight services available a dynamic design and print can be delivered promptly straight to your door!

Contact me today for the best design and service Australia wide! jeanette@designhouse.com.au

How cool is this website, especially if you are creative, check it out! …thanks heaps Jackie xx

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite.

What Can You Do with Pinterest?

Redecorate your Home, Plan a Wedding, Find your Style, Save your Inspirations & Save Your Recipes!

Last weekend I had an awesome time away with my friend Cheryl and her twin daughters. We went on a half day horse trail ride that included morning tea and lunch (kangaroo) followed by a swim in the pool. I rode Matilda. We stayed overnight on the farm in the lodge and the girls slept outside in swags. We cooked a BBQ dinner and breakfast plus also enjoyed marshmallows at our bon fire with a couple of beers. More info on Giddee Up Horse rides here.

On the way home we dropped in the Fraser Coast Sporting Clays Shooting Club to fire off a few rounds at their open day. It was great fun and I hit 4 targets out of about 9 shots so that wasn’t too bad for my first ever go. Club website here.

AMAZON is out to burn Apple with a full colour tablet that’s less than half the price of the iPad.

The online retail giant today unveiled the Kindle Fire, its long-awaited touchscreen computer which experts believe could challenge Apple’s dominance.

The Kindle Fire runs on Google’s Android software and costs only $US199 – the cheapest iPads retail at $US499 – and will let users download books, magazines, newspapers, videos and music.

It will have access to apps through Amazon’s Android store and, unlike the iPad, doesn’t need to be backed up on a PC.
Instead, it backs up its contents wirelessly on Amazon’s servers.

Click here to learn more!

Order yours Below NOW only $199!!!

[ Info via news.com.au ]

Latin & Burlesque dance performance!!!!
It’s Party Time!!!
Saturday 12th November 2011 @ The Bayswater Hotel!
Come and learn to how to SALSA & ZUMBA®!!!!
REOW!

RSVP Here All Welcome!

More info here!

For 3 days I have listened to some of the most amazing and inspiring millionaires from our country and the world including Anthony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki and DONALD TRUMP!
Event details here.
Talk about being on the biggest high ever!

As a motivated professional business woman it is extremely important to me that I learn from the absolute best for dynamic self improvement and that I am an EXPERT in my field improving what I can offer my clients in solving their business advertising problems to increase their confidence, profit and client base.

I like to set huge goals and go for them to inspire others to shoot for their dreams also and my latest goal was to have a photo taken with my business IDOL the legendary DONALD TRUMP currently valued at SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS!

Trump was introduced to the stage by Australian Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins.

I just LOVE Trump and especially his TV series The Apprentice. He is such a wise, educated, funny  and intelligent business man with a hardcore, can do attitude and to me a great mentor.
He is inspiring, motivated, professional, successful, speaks his mind on all matters, extremely family orientated and I felt a real kindness in his presence.

Trump said, “I believe, get even with people, if they screw you, screw them back ten times as hard!”

This reminded me of how local managing Director Malcolm Quinn of the Fraser Coast Independent Newspaper stole $2,505 from me for a ticket to meet and greet and have a photo taken with Mr Trump three years earlier. Mr Quinn failed in his attempt to put on this similar event in the past with Donald Trump and still owes him $950,000 plus Australian business people $1.5 million! (More info here, here, here and here).

From that day on it became a goal that I must achieve to have my photo taken with Trump! I even photo shopped a photo of Trump and I two years ago to begin the Law of Attraction process.

After Trump finished his speech at the event, I went back for a question / answer session with him.  When I had pushed my way through 150 VIPs and security, bravely attracted Trump’s attention to ask for a photo and was given the go ahead he was wearing the same pink tie he had on in my photo shopped image!
I said to him that Malcolm Quinn had ‘screwed’ me for money in the past as he also had done to Trump. Trump then said to me, “Who’s that?” … I laughed in agreement!!

He looked me in the eye and asked me directly if I had enjoyed his speech to which I replied with honesty I thoroughly did!!! We also made a few other small comments. I then made my way to the back of the room, where I was on such an adrenalin rush that I had achieved another long term goal that my knees began to shake!
Of course I have no doubt we will meet and converse again on many occasions.

Meeting my business idol and finally achieving my goal to have a photo taken with him has made me believe even more in the Law of Attraction, being positive and that anything is possible in life!!! What an absolutely amazing, thought provoking and sensational experience! One of many more to come!

A big thank you to Michael Burnett from Empowernet for successfully organising such an Amazing event!!

Before the seminar I also ran 9km in the Sydney Running Festival across the Sydney Harbour Bridge plus checked out the beautiful Sydney Chinese Gardens afterwards!

Some of Trumps’ quotes from his speech:

-       “Be totally focused, you can’t take your eye off the ball”
-       “Rich people don’t like rich people, historically, well I don’t”
-       “I like Losers to be my friends”
-       “The harder I work the luckier I get”
-       “You can make yourself Lucky”
-       “You need passion, go against the tide”
-       “Go with your gut, go against the tide, I like that”
-       “Get even with people, if you don’t they will continue to go after you”
-       “If someone screws you, screw them back in spades!”
-       “Always get a pre-nup!”
-       “Think Big, it’s much easier”
-       “Focus on the positive”
-       “The word momentum is very important”
-       “Believe in yourself, see yourself as a one man band, see yourself as victorious, you have to think like a WINNER!”
-       “Can you take the pressure!”

More news on Trumps visit here.

Yesterday myself, Jeanette Maynes | Model (first time ever) from (Design House - graphic and website designer) and Lolita Valerga | Artist from (Shades of Inspiration - henna and face painting artist) came together as Model (canvas) and Artist to create an Organic interpretation of the theme “Wired for Sound” based on elements and forces of nature for the Melbourne Body Art Competition 2011.

Lolita and I have been friends for 15 years since we did a ‘Certificate in Arts’ together.

We were in the BRUSH & SPONGE category and started painting at 11am, with brushes down at 5pm, then made our way to the judge’s room for judging at 5.30pm and hit the catwalk at 7pm.

Unfortunately we did not come a place as the competition was fierce but we had an absolute ball taking on such a fun adventure that took a couple of months preparation. We were certainly a crowd favourite and as they say “Art is in the eye of the beholder”!

We were also quite the crowd pleaser at Crown Casino having a couple of wind down drinks after the event!

Please read our concept and development for the ’Wired for Sound!’ theme here!

Melbourne Body Art Competition at Carlton Brew House, Abbotsford Saturday 20th August 2011, The Melbourne Age Newspaper Image Gallery here.

Fraser Coast Chronicle News here.

How cool is this iDarkroom app for your iPhone!
Turn your images into creative masterpieces wihtin a minute  …. iDarkroom on Facebook.

iDarkroom can add amazing effects to your photos. It support six types of effects: color filter, paper, light leak & bokeh, vignette, noise, frame. You can shuffle these effects by just one tap, or choose each type of effect manually.

● 20 color filters 
● 11 paper effects
● 13 light leak & bokeh effects
● 5 vignette effects
● 4 noise effects
● 7 frame effects
● Shuffle effects
● Sharing by Mail, Twitter, Facebook
● Save to Photo Album
● Various photo size

Only $0.99 from iTunes, download here.

How cool is this little bargain I bought on eBay.
I don’t listen to the radio, I find the advertisements so annoying they nearly drive me to have an accident!
… so how wonderful to be able to use my radio station to listen to my IPOD while charging my IPHONE at the same time!
The kit plugs straight into the lighter socket and will also be great to listen to my Metro View GPS!
Average cost is about $15 – $20. PRICELESS!

- Comes with remote control!
- Hands-Free function through car stereo
- FM Frequency from 88.1 – 107.9 MHz
- Charges iPhone, iPod, iTouch with dock connector
- Music playback on your car stereo
- USB Socket of Standard 5V 1A Electical Power (Charge via USB on many brands of MP3 players, mobile phones & GPS)
- Flexible Goose-pipe makes it convenient to find the best position for your device
- Flexible Clamp Holder keep your device in place

How cool is this iPhone app I brought for $18 with no ongoing subscription costs!
Now I have my own GPS for driving!
It even shows me when I am about to go past a speed camera, not that I speed.
Plus beeps and tells you if you do go over the speed limit for the area you are driving in.
It also gives you the distance to your destination plus the expected time of arrival.

MetroView Australia Turn-By-Turn Navigation

Standard Features:

- No ongoing subscription costs, FREE to use after initial purchase.

- All map data stored on phone – no download costs for mapping or navigation.

- The same application can be used on all iPhone models and iPad

- Advanced lane guidance – know which lane to be in at major junctions.

- Analogue speedo view with digital readout on map view.

- High quality spoken street names including Australian accented male and female voice options.

- Familiar map design.

- Walking mode including compass functionality to point you in a straight line to your destination (iPhone 3GS and above)

- Proudly Australian made and supported

Keep up to date on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In or the Design House Blog for all the latest Design House News!

A Klout Score is the measurement of your overall online influence.
The scores range from 1 to 100 with higher scores representing a wider and stronger sphere of influence. Klout uses over 35 variables on Facebook and Twitter to measure True Reach, Amplification Probability, and Network Score.

My current Klout score is 18 and my Klout Classification states:
You actively engage in the social web, constantly trying out new ways to interact and network. You’re exploring the ecosystem and making it work for you. Your level of activity and engagement shows that you “get it”, we predict you’ll be moving up.

About Klout Score

The Klout Score is the measurement of your overall online influence. The scores range from 1-100 with higher scores representing a wider and stronger sphere of influence.

The Klout Score is a factor of over 35 variables broken into three categories; True Reach, Amplification Score and Network Score.

True Reach is the size of your engaged audience and is based on the followers and friends who actively listen and react to your messages. Amplification Score is the likelihood that your messages will generate actions (retweets, @messages, likes and comments) and is on a scale of 1 to 100. Network score indicates how influential your engaged audience is, also on a scale of 1 to 100. The Klout score is highly correlated to clicks, comments and retweets.

About Influence Matrix

The Klout Classification is a holistic look at your influence and how you use it. There are 16 possible classifications determined by factors such as how often you tweet, who you follow, who follows you, and how your audience interacts with your messages. Your Klout Class is like a personality test for your style of influence.

Your influence network shows who you influence and who influences you. Influence is determined by a variety of factors including retweets, @messages, follows, and lists.

[Info via KLOUT]

Once again I participated in Earth Hour at 8.30pm, Saturday 26th March.

I was away for the weekend at Bargara with my parents and their friends. I made everyone turn the lights off (and the football on TV! LOL) and we played a game of five handed 500 cards in the dark for an hour.
We had a small lamp I brought, a torch and my iphone torch for light. I brought a couple of candles but forgot a lighter! I didn’t think till after that I could have lit the candles with the toaster!
Needless to say some were glad when the hour was up! LOL!
I had a ball, there were some pretty funny calls as we couldn’t see our cards properly!

Yesterday an online article from the Fraser Coast Chronicle Newspaper was brought to my attention about a website that has been launched for local bands … full story here.

Upon viewing the website I nearly burnt a hole in my retina with the red and blue colours that clashed and made my eyes vibrate!

“AN EXCITING new website ….. Maryborough’s David Parker is a web designer who wants to “sell the Wide Bay to the world”…. In my professional opinion Mr Parker, sadly I can’t see this website selling anything, to anyone!

I see so many people getting ripped off because they may not have an eye for professional design for their business brand. Honestly, businesses send themselves broke or into bankruptcy by using amateurs with no design skills, qualifications, or industry experience!
You really must make sure you are dealing with an honest professional when it comes to your business brand!
You never get a second chance to make a first impression!!!

The idea has potential; unfortunately the presentation may kill this before it gets off the ground.

El a very close graphic & interactive designer friend / ex local who has numerous years industry experience within the website design field also just had to express her opinion to me and I whole heartedly agree!
The below feedback was submitted to the Fraser Coast Chronicle in relation to the story….

“Exciting new website?? You have got to be kidding.

The idea might have some merit (and there’s definitely some great talent in the area who deserve to be heard), however the website is a horrible, amateur mess.

This site looks and functions like a clumsy personal website from 10 years ago and is far from the professional face our local bands deserve. In fact, having such an unprofessional look can do more damage to a band’s reputation than good.

An alternative idea would be to set up band pages and jamming communities on Facebook or similar. This is a medium that is familiar, easy to use and already has a large, established community.

It’s also FREE – no signing up for ‘value added services’ which would be a complete waste of money judging by the quality of the site that has already been designed.

Just like when you get up on the stage for a gig – first impressions count for a lot! This site certainly does not leave a good first impression.

I’m sorry Mr Parker, but to be called a web designer or developer you have to understand the very basic principles of design, web trends and usability – of which your site displays none. To call yourself a web designer is to embarrass and devalue the professional design community.”

Elisha – Interactive & Graphic Designer

I’m officially back in the country after an Awesome cruise on the Pacific Dawn. Cruising from Brisbane we stopped at Noumea, Lifou and Vanuatu.

Captain Neil Turnbull looked after us and the weather was very nice with only a couple of rough days, though it did take me a couple of days to get over my sea legs on return.

The food was delicious and as per usual I totally over ate!!!
There will be a lot of hardcore exercise going on this week and some sort of soup diet!!!

Once again another fun cruise with P & O.

Saturday night I attended the Tibetan Earthquake Benefit concert organised by my friend Kirsty Chenery at the Z Pac Theatre, Zepher St. Hervey Bay.

The evening started with a viewing of: ‘The Sun Behind the Clouds …..Tibet’s struggle for freedom’ Movie. This movie was excellent, clearly portraying the current and ongoing dilemma Tibetans and His Holiness the Dalai Lama face in trying to see a middle path so that Tibetans can live in their own country (currently overtaken by the Chinese), keeping their customs alive and the practice of Buddhism.
This was a special preview as the movie is not officially released till October so we very blessed to be given this viewing.

We then enjoyed some food as many brought along a plate to share.

Following our break we had a great live performance from Alena of some of her original songs. Alena is a student at our local Buddhist Sanctuary and this was her first ever live performance – The Oddiyana Dharma Sanctuary.
The theatre was also decorated beautifully with pray flags by Alena earlier in the day.

This was followed by an exciting performance by the very talented special guests Tenzin Choegyal and Tibet2Timbuk2.

Their music ranged from relaxing, to mesmerising, to captivating to upbeat I want to dance songs!  
Most of their songs are either written about birds, lakes or mountains!
They were very amusing making us laugh.

Tibet2Timbuk2 has an eclectic repertoire including group arrangements of Tenzin’s Tibetan songs, Marcello’s English songs, collaborative songs and instrumentals and even classical tabla solo.  The overall sound is full and organic, with all three musicians sharing bass, percussion, harmony and melody roles to create a solid yet easy groove.

All up over $3,000 was raised on this very successful and enlightening night!
Awesome job, Kirst xox and all who participated, helped and attended!
There was alot of love in the room!

Friday night I went to see Patrizio Buanne live in Concert at the Convention Centre in Brisbane. What a thoroughly enjoyable performance. Patrizio’s voice is so strong and sounds like it has come from the heavens!
Add to that his moves, charisma, sex appeal plus 14 piece orchestra and you are in for one very sexy, professional, amusing and entertaining performance.

I just had to buy his latest album but unfortunately unlike when I went to his concert in 2007, Patrizio didn’t do a signing after his concert.

Patrizio Buanne spent his childhood between his hometown in Naples, Italy and Vienna, Austria, due to his parent’s restaurant business.

This multi-cultural upbringing sparked in Patrizio an early passion for languages, and by the age of 17 he already spoke fluent Italian, German, English, French and Spanish. It seemed obvious for both Patrizio and his parents for him to become an interpreter, and after graduation from school he went on to study Slavic languages at University and today he can add fluent Polish to his language tool kit. But whilst his aptitude for languages is admirable, a much greater gift, apparent even from the age of 4, was emerging – his gift to be able to sing and entertain people….

But what quality separates Patrizio from other great artists? Is it the natural grace of his voice, the “rugged” good looks, or the confident, casual, respectful attention that he gives to his audience? Or is it just the basic trust he evokes in people?

…..Click here to learn more.

A little disappointed I didn’t get a close up encounter with Patrizio this time, I was pleasantly surprised on my return flight home from Brisbane to see the all time Australian Legend Jimmy Barnes was on my flight.  

Not being one to miss an opportunity I had my photo snapped with My Cold Chisel Hero at the Brisbane Airport!!!

Click here to learn more 

with Special guests Tenzin Choegyal and Tibet2Timbuk2.
 

Saturday, June 26, 2010
Z Pac Theatre Zepher St. Hervey Bay 

5pm – 6.20pm: ‘The Sun Behind the Clouds …..Tibet’s struggle for freedom’ Movie
$7 a ticket

7pm – 9:30pm: Benefit Concert
$20 a ticket

$25 for both; Tickets available from Aura Dental, Torquay Rd and Go Natural Foods, the Esplanade from 19th May. Limited seating! 

Was so much fun!

A big thank you to Enrique for his awesome 2 hour lesson.
We had a fantastic turn out with Zumba enthusiasts of all ages and sizes completing the full two hours!!!

Also thank you to all who attended and sponsored this FUN event! 
I can’t wait for the next one!