Lovely Things

Lovely surprises for you today...

Hello, friends!

This week, I’m ready to burst in with an idea that truly helps me. But first…if you haven’t been asked lately — how are you? How are you feeling in your body? How are you navigating your run up to the holidays? Are things stable and normal or a little off-kilter in your world?

Today we’re tree trimming (so early, I know) but we have sons and girlfriends here before someone heads off overseas for a uni (university) study trip, and this weekend was our window to share the family traditions. I’ve got a dinner planned with the Nutella Christmas Tree pastry for dessert — recipe below — and the Christmas lounging pjs are wrapped and ready for a Christmas movie night after dinner.

So…that’s me, starting to celebrate Christmas.

It makes me think of how much I love the holidays, and here’s the secret: I love to create joy.

This year, more than ever, when the news is terrible and life has honestly been unsettled for us, I want to drive up in the Fun Bus and create a beautiful holiday with all the people I’ve been given to love.

I want to fiddle with baking the treats my family loves.

I want to find and wear the matching pjs.

I want to pick up sweet and small gifts for girlfriends, and wrap them with care.

I want to celebrate — to throw some good back into this world, to make some dinners and play some games and laugh with people and breathe it all in.

The older I grow, the more I know that our lives are always changing. What we have is now, today, and the micro-moments of happiness we create.

No one has ever come to my door and handed me some happiness. I wish! Some days, when things are hard and extra “life-y” I wish this were the case…but I do believe we can open our own door, and hand some happiness back.

My plan in the lead-up to Christmas this year is to take every opportunity to hand out joy. And to sit back in a chair with my feet up and my cup of hot coffee, and marvel at all the amazing things we have:

  • People to love.

  • Hearts to warm.

  • Lights and sparkle and magic (and summer for us…and maybe you’ve got falling snow)

I hope you join me in feeling really good — in learning to feel even better — as we go ahead like all women do, and make the magic this season.

Love,

Catherine x

PS. The fun stuff!

  • Remember the pup who hangs out on the trolley at my local flower shop? There are TWO. I don’t know why this delights me so much…but think about puppies riding on flower trolleys, setting out the flowers every morning. Life is delightful, right?

  • The Nutella Christmas tree recipe - so easy and cute.

  • Hot tip: I was browsing ASOS.com in September, and found Christmas pjs at a huge, huge discount. I got sets of these for $15 and the quality is amazing. Who knew you could buy family pjs so early? I’ve put a reminder in my calendar for next year.

  • A perfect little girlfriend gift: these small cross-body bags. Honestly, the caramel one looks like it’s from Zshoosh for $150 but it’s Kmart and $10.

  • (A quick and respectful note on sharing budget-friendly options: over the years, I’ve had so many lovely emails from readers who, especially since Covid times, have lots of creativity and love to share, but not so much money. That’s why I try to be balanced here, and share what works for everyone. Hugs, hugs, hugs to you all. I hope today is flooded with opportunities for you and your families, and so much joy. 🩷🩷🩷)

  • Had to share - our picture book, Violin & Cello, was featured on Playschool last week. So sweet to be part of this Aussie iconic television show.

Let's rest a while...

Hello, friends. Happy weekend!

In Sydney, we have a beautiful soft rain, and my plan today is to rest a while.

I’m thinking of all of you — the women who make things happen. You’re heartbeat of a home, you’re the ones who will make sure friends are loved, people are listened to, and there’s coffee or tea ready to be made for anyone who might drop by.

You put the flowers on the table.

You find a way to offer love.

You’re already thinking about Christmas.

So today, for you, I have this reminder: take a moment to rest. Rest and trust that everything will get done a little faster if you stop and find some peace.

Sending you so much love from my rainy home to yours.

Catherine xx

P.S. The fun stuff!

When things aren't going to plan...

Hi from the beach in beautiful Australia! I’ve always felt so lucky to be Canadian and Australian, and every time I walk an Aussie beach, I know this is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

This week, I thought of a question that’s been amazing and I couldn’t wait to share it with you.

Whenever anything happens—good, bad, or in between—ask yourself this:

Such a great question, and it works for every challenge we’re facing.

It’s an instant way to practice gratitude and look for more of what you want.

Just pause, breathe…and ask yourself, “How is this happening FOR me (and not TO me)?”

I hope you have a cosy weekend to rest and recharge. My plan is to search for the good in everything—easy to do in a landscape that’s so beautiful. This enormous banksia tree here at the beach is absolutely beautiful. It just keeps on growing and thriving…there’s a lesson in that.

Happy Sunday!

Love, Catherine x

P.S. The fun stuff!

Something useful

Hi everyone — just dropping into your Sunday morning / Saturday night with a very quick selfie to show you my new green puffer jacket in case you want one. I’m so sad we’re heading into fall and winter in Australia, so if you want to grab this cheerful jacket, link is below and very affordable. They’re selling so fast, and also in white, hot pink and black. Perfect for dog-walking…and I’m still so sad I won’t be doing that this winter.

Now, onto the important stuff!

This week I invited a beautiful friend over for a ‘mini-retreat and planning lunch.’ She’s wise and gorgeous, and I needed to chat about moving from being a mum-of-teens to a mum of adult sons. (Her advice was brilliant: “Before you ask them something, consider whether you’d like it if they asked YOU the same question.” Honestly, I’d be irritated if I were peppered with questions all day…so there we go. I’m easing back!)

The second thing we did was talk through 20 Questions for Reflection I compiled from various resources online. One of the questions felt amazing:

Over to you! It’s the easiest way to bring more joy to your day.

What do you love to do that you don’t do enough of?

For us, the answers just jumped out. Ask yourself, and yours will, too.

Happy Sunday! Enjoy your weekend.

Love, Catherine x

P.S. The fun stuff!

I'm heartbroken...and hope-filled.

Friends, this past Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, my prairie family walked through the loss of an irreplaceable, joyful boy in a tragic, tragic accident. Hearts are absolutely shattered, and yet…we breathe, we draw close, we wake up in the morning to love the people we’ve been given to love.

This week, I watched my sister become heroic.

Women carry the sorrows of the world. Men, too, but women…women put all the pain and grief of families in a heavy handbag and sling it onto a sagging shoulder. And we keep walking.

I guess that’s why we need each other like we do, to talk and comfort and be sisters (even when we’re not related). I feel like that about so many of you, around the world, reading this now. We’re like-minded, like-hearted, and together.

I’ll be back next week with more uplifting news. But for now, a little comfort for me and mine in the shape of a poem. If you’ve ever grieved or lost someone, maybe you’ll like it, too.

Thank you for listening.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy your beautiful, ordinary day.

Love, Catherine x

How To Write a Picture Book ❤️

Hi everyone!

Today I want to share my new picture book, VIOLIN & CELLO, with you. I’d also like to tell you about the process, in case you’ve always wanted to give it a whirl…and why not? Why not you?

Here’s what happens:

  1. You write a story (no more than 500 words in total). But here’s the trick — it has to be compelling, unique, and fun for kids, with a child-centred hero who solves their own problem. And yes, even a children’s story has to focus on a problem because that’s what story is: conflict. Whether you’re writing a novel or a picture book, your hero has to want something they don’t have.

    Five hundred words sounds so easy, but often a story can take months to create!

  2. Email your manuscript to a publisher who is accepting submissions (check their websites). How to find a publisher? Look at picture books you love — who published it? Also, if you don’t know which picture books are doing well in the current market, that’s the place to start! Go to a good bookshop to browse and buy books you love.

  3. Success! Let’s talk about this, because so much information around writing is about dealing with rejection. (And let’s be real: rejection happens A LOT.) But if a publisher loves your manuscript, they’ll call you — so exciting — and say they’re taking your story to an acquisitions meeting! This is usually a monthly meeting where editors take a short list of perhaps eight great titles and decide whose books will be selected to be published. Publishing houses can’t publish every worthy manuscript…

  4. The publisher then pairs you with an illustrator of their choice. Look who I was paired with for VIOLIN & CELLO…the exceptional Joanna Bartel from South Australia! (It’s rare to be an author who is able to illustrate, but many illustrators go on to write and illustrate their own stories.)

Joanna created concept drawings, and we discussed them. Her vision was perfect for my beautiful story set in a big city about two young mystery musicians who’d never met…

Then Joanna spent many, many months creating beautiful illustrations for the book, while my editor and I perfected the story.

And…VIOLIN & CELLO is a world-first…because this is the first picture book worldwide featuring violinists and cellists. The talented young Australian composer, Alexander Lau, composed The Mystery Friends duet for young cellists and violinists to play. The music is part of the story.

5. Publication happens about a year after signing a contract. Authors and illustrators split a 10% royalty from every book sold, which is around $1 per book sold for each creator.

If writing a picture book is something you’ve always wanted to do, now is the perfect time to get started!

And if you’d like to cheer us along with our beautiful new picture book, here’s how:

  • VIOLIN & CELLO is out now in Australia! Ask at bookshops or order online.

  • Spread the word — if you know any child musicians, this is the first picture book worldwide featuring violinists and cellists. Please tell your school library, your child’s music teacher, and musical friends. ❤️

  • Pre-order in Canada, America and here in the UK — coming in early November!

  • You can gift a book to a little musician, to a local school or to your library.

Thank you, my friends, for sharing. It means the world, truly. Enjoy your weekend.

Love, Catherine x

PS. The fun stuff!

,

Three Things Worth Enjoying

,

Hello, everyone, and hi to all the new people this week. Look what’s happening in Sydney…tulips! Spring is here on 1 September and I can’t wait!

This week I wanted to share three things worth enjoying. Let’s go!

1. Consider making bread. Gluten and carbs, I know, I know, but this is so fun. I’ve written about this easy focaccia before, and if you want to feel domestic and successful, you can make it.

2. Dust off your beautiful dishes and use them. When our beloved ‘adopted’ Australian grandmother died, we inherited her set of Royal Crown Derby. Her real family was kind enough to ask if we’d like them (before they went in the Op Shop box - gah!)…and I use them on the weekends. I’m guessing there are pretty things in your cupboards, too.

3. Share some gratitude. Not just be grateful. Share “grateful.” Spread some heartfelt compliments. Tell the people you love that you see what they’re doing. Say something fun and appreciative today to a person who might not expect it. It’s an old, tired cliche because it’s true:

Everyone, everyone, everyone needs a kind word. You can give it.

Enjoy your weekend, and have fun loving all the people you’ve been given to love.

Catherine xx

PS. The fun stuff!

I share links here to things I’m enjoying. Sometimes it’s a product I’ve bought, sometimes a poem or a recipe, a quote or a thought or an activity. Or a book I’ve written. No pressure, just for fun.

It's Time To Finally Tell You...

Hi friends, and hello to all the new people this week! I have an exciting announcement!

But first…time for a quick intro (and photo!) in case you’ve forgotten what you’ve signed up for. I’m Catherine Greer, author, and this weekly newsletter is Love Our Age, my little corner of the internet where I spread joy. I’m Canadian-Australian, and we live in Australia with two young adult sons and the cutest little pup. You’ll hear from me every Sunday (Saturday overseas) with useful tips and fun suggestions.

Today I’ve sharing some quick wisdom and a fun surprise. Let’s go!

There’s one little word that’s magic. It can activate us to:

  • try something new.

  • make a change.

  • believe again.

  • stop anxiety.

  • have a fresh start.

We can use it anytime. It’s this.

You’ve probably done a lot in your life: some things were easy, and some were hard. I have, too.

We’re all facing things now—some you share with others, but a lot you don’t. Some things we hold inside, the worries and the fears, and struggle to move forward.

From time to time, we can struggle to believe in ourselves.

That’s where a little word like “maybe” can move mountains. It opens up space and shifts our attention to what is possible, not the blocker that’s right in front of us.

Give it a try today and see what happens.

Love, Catherine x

PS. Yay! You’re the first to know…

  • The 10 Minute Fix Journal is out now!

    • Over 200 pages of goodness: a quick overview of 100 “fixes” from The 10 Minute Fix book, with 200 unique writing prompts, and 100 practical affirmations.

    • 6x9 inches, lined cream paper, with unique questions and guided writing prompts.

    • Find it here in Australia and Canada (paperback), and hardcover in America and the UK (paperback coming soon).

Happy Sunday & Fun Things!

Hi friends. How are you?

I’m currently getting over a cold, which is a minor inconvenience compared to all the people I know who’ve caught Covid recently. A beautiful friend dropped off chicken soup, and I’m on the mend now. When she showed up at my door at 7:30am, I was in my new Target pjs (link below — you’ll love them!) and I remembered to say, “I appreciate you!”

We’re so lucky to have friends, aren’t we? To have a friend and to be a good friend—both are blessings in this upside-down world right now.

If it’s time for you to rest today, please take a moment to do that.

I hope you take good care of you this weekend. Sending you lots of love from Sydney!

Catherine xx

PS. The fun stuff!

  • Honey Harissa Carrots on Whipped Feta — yum. Recipe here.

Lift Your Spirits For A Sec...

Friends, you are so welcome here today in my little corner of the internet. I’m sending you something to deliberately lift your spirits.

A break, a laugh. Are you ready?

Those are not my legs, above.

They are the svelte legs of my new teacher of LINE DANCING.

No, I don’t like country music. Yes, I love to have fun. So at Christmas I decided it would be a brilliant idea to gift my husband a voucher for a Line Dancing class for us. Ha!

A friend challenged me to try something new, and a dance class was the quickest thing I could think of. Plus, unlike a regular dance class—Rock’N’Roll, Swing, Ballroom—you don’t have to spend the entire hour swapping around the room and holding on to other sweaty strangers.

You’re on your own, baby. (Even when you go with a partner.)

So many upbeat people are there…women of all ages! A few brave men.

The music (at least in my little class) is only about 25% country, so that’s really good news for me.

And it is FUN.

Honestly, if my brain had a tongue it would be sticking out through most classes. Our brains! Our brains are flabby, folks. Learning something new is the best thing for us amidst all the heaviness of the world.

Last night was our first “dance party” in a local hall. I’m not sure what you call them. Anyway, I thought it was a great idea to dress up because, in my way of thinking, it shows respect to the person who organised the event. I put on a favourite maxi dress and walked out of the bedroom. It’s big and blue and taffeta (weirdly), and my husband says I sound like I’m wearing a rain jacket. But I love this dress.

Our cool seventeen year old who somehow has the hair of a NYC rapper stopped IN HIS TRACKS. “Mum!” he said, “you look pretty. Love the dress.” Then he taught me his “skateboarding bro handshake” I guess to show me how much he appreciated my style. It was a parenting win, my friends.

But then I went to the study to say goodbye to our Law-Business uni student.

“ARE YOU WEARING A TENT?” he said.

Lawyers, right?

But on we went to our Line Dancing party. All we knew were four dances, and the women there were fabulous. So skilled, so upbeat. I was mesmerised watching them.

My point is this: sometimes we need to learn something new. Our spirits sing out for this. For change. For joy.

Can you take lessons in something you love?

If access or finances are tricky, remember YouTube: you can learn anything for free. How to knit or juggle, how to make croissants or line dance. How to do ballet as a beginner. Play piano or ukulele. Anything. It’s all there for free.

Enjoy your weekend, my friends. Take a little time to think about what new thing you’d love to do.

Love, Catherine x

PS.

  • Yes, this is Line Dancing at its world-class best. Remember the 80s movie Footloose? I’d LOVE to learn this dance.

  • We all know the world is suffering right now, and for me, my action is better than my sadness. Some ideas: it’s simple to book an AirBnB to send cash directly to people in the Ukraine. Here’s a list of other ways to help vetted by The Guardian.

  • If you decide to learn something new, let me know! I’m here on Instagram. You can listen to kookaburras laughing…have you ever heard them? Joy!

  • Thank you, beautiful Polly, for the Learn Something New challenge. I’m offering it to you, lovely people.

Green...are you feeling it?

Friends, hello! Hi new people…it’s Catherine from Small Steps Are Perfect and The 10 Minute Fix writing to you!

42 days until Christmas! Do you celebrate?

I’m getting into the spirit of green around here. Maybe it’s the influence of my latest book cover, maybe it’s just all the gorgeous green in Aussie shops right now.

How do you feel about green?

I found this lovely faux silk blouse from Zara…

It’s such a classic. You can’t tell from the photo, but the buttons are a pretty mother-of-pearl. (Sorry, couldn’t find it on the Zara Australia website but I bought it Friday…so maybe have a hunt around?)

Other than that? Ohhhhh, I landed on a new solution for sleepless nights.

I started getting up.

Really. I just started getting up and doing a few things instead of rolling around worrying about not sleeping. It was a tip from my mum, Katie…you guys know her from “yellow” in The 10 Minute Fix! She told me once, ‘If I don’t sleep, that’s okay…I’ll be a little tired tomorrow.’

I stopped resisting my own sleeplessness (which seems to be another gift of midlife—like a softer tummy, silver hair and changing skin).

I’m trying to believe that sleeplessness can be a gift. It gives us time to reflect and ponder. And if we’re a little tired the next day, well, it’s not as hard as so many things that people have to endure. Right?

Gift: a couple of nights ago, I had a beautiful middle-of-the-night-to-me text conversation with my cousin in Canada, Jean, who is more like a sister and a girlfriend to me than a distant relation. (You read about her in Small Steps Are Perfect!)

While sleepless, I started listening to myself.

Some people meditate or pray or make To Do (and To Don’t) Lists when they’re sleepless. Lately, I’ve been doing this thing that I feel quite sheepish writing about, but it works.

Hand on heart, other hand on tummy, and say this to yourself: “I love you. I’m listening.” Then listen to your own thoughts like a kind friend. Ask yourself how you’re doing.

Essentially it’s two lines from my all-time favourite meditation from Canadian Sarah and it’s free here if you have 12 minutes to spare.

When we tell ourselves we’re listening, it somehow accesses the tender parts of us that we so rarely share with others.

I’m listening to me.

Are you listening to you?

Try it tonight if you can’t sleep.

Wish I could send every one of you a pretty green shirt along with this email. If you love green, I hope you go out and find yourself a cute one. Green treat. We’re green and growing.

Happy Sunday,

Catherine x

PS. Yayyyyy! Welcome new people. Love to tell you about my books because they’re spreading cheer around the world. Yes, I still re-read my own books because I need all the little reminders.

I'm nervous about sharing this, but...

Hi everyone, and hello new people. I’m Catherine from Small Steps Are Perfect (new book!) and today I’m nervously sharing a little something with you.

It’s important.

BUT…please know I’m not sharing this because of our bodies or how much we do. This ISN’T about our bodies or our achievements.

It’s about TIME. And it applies to EVERYTHING.

Okay?

Here’s the idea.

I’m ageing. So are you. But it doesn’t matter because TIME can be a FRIEND.

It’s not an enemy.

It can be GOOD that things take a while.

It can be SMART to start when you’re old. Take a look at Joan and what she’s done with 13 years. Read the caption, please :) This image isn’t really about Joan’s health…it’s about her attitude to time.

It’s about doing things SLOWLY. It’s about believing that ageing is a good thing, and the best really can be in front of us, not behind us.

Time is our friend. We’re so lucky to have it. We’re also lucky to have this beautiful Canadian woman, @trainwithjoan, out there as an inspiration — NOT because of her body transformation, but because she reminds us that in all things…

  • FAMILY relationships

  • MAKING something new

  • STARTING over

  • Beginning LATER

  • Feeling LEFT BEHIND

…that time can be our FRIEND.

Just take a look at me (above). I’m 55 now, grey, wrinkled, losing hormones faster than a toddler can chuck a tantrum in the grocery store and still I believe this is true:

Time is my friend, not my enemy.

I have a bit of a similar story — starting with something new in the middle of my life. I had a dream to be a published author. Six years later, here I am…but there’s a lot of effort and trying and worry and failure that you can’t see in this photo. It took three years to celebrate my first published book. I’ve written two full manuscripts you don’t see here (yet) and I don’t know what will ever happen to those :) I’m halfway through another one. Fingers crossed!

Has it been like landing with my bum in the butter? Nope. No. Not at all. Has it been a roller coaster, with a lot of hard work, trying to keep faith with myself and convincing myself to keep going? Yes.

Has it been worth it to walk and shuffle forward toward MY dreams? Absolutely.

Has it been fast? No.

Have I had help or connections or fabulous luck? No.

Am I here, building slowly, believing TIME can be my FRIEND? Yes.

You also have time.

Time to do the things you want to do, the things your heart is aching for you to do. It might be

  • travel

  • writing your books (write your books…we need more books!)

  • building your tiny business

  • getting healthier

  • or even keeping the faith (that all your kids will get along and love each other properly one day, that the wound inside you will heal, that you can feel a little better than you do now)

Give it time. See TIME as your friend, please. It’s not too late. It’s good to take your time.

You can walk ever so slowly towards your dreams, like I try to do. I’m still becoming the woman I was born to be: a writer who connects with people’s hearts. I’m taking my time.

You can, too. Whatever your thing is, YOU CAN, TOO.

There’s room for all of us, and time is our friend.

Happy Sunday. I’m cheering for us all.

Love Catherine x

ps.

Pretty Things For Sunday

pink+diamond.jpg

Hi everyone, Catherine here.

Today I’m thinking of all the ways we can enjoy ourselves, whether we’re out of lockdown (Sydney) or in lockdown (Melbourne), whether the borders are now open (Canada & America) or whether you’re simply hanging around in your pjs at home because it’s the weekend and you want to.

I’m doing lovely things:

  1. Making a dessert for Sunday dinner.

  2. Slipping on my favourite ‘pink diamond’ ring. Similar one here — mine is three seasons old from Lovisa and I wish I’d bought a few :(

  3. Taking a long walk in nature and enjoying the Aussie bush in our beautiful city.

  4. Reading something I enjoy. I’m into Jeannette Winterson’s fascinating book of essays about Artificial Intelligence, 12 Bytes. And I absolutely LOVED Ishiguro’s novel Klara and the Sun. If you’re at all wondering about how we might live with robots, you’ll love his book. I fell in love with the soft-hearted Klara.

  5. Working on my new novel.

  6. Hugging anyone who comes my way in the kitchen.

  7. Listening to Fleetwood Mac while I cook: this song.

  8. Pausing to slow down and be.

  9. Adding the joy for someone else.

That’s it, my friends. If you’d like to join me, then let’s go ENJOY this day.

Sending love around the world,

Catherine x

PS.

Thank you for telling me how much you’re enjoying Small Steps Are Perfect. It’s a wonderful little gift book, and Christmas is coming!

You can find Small Steps Are Perfect here:

SS puzzle.jpg

Easy Macarons

Macarons.jpg

Happy Sunday! It’s Catherine from The 10 Minute Fix and Small Steps are Perfect—my new book!

I promised you my easy macaron recipe. Let’s do this! It’s ideal for your gluten-free friends and family.

First, though, thank you to everyone who has jumped in and ordered Small Steps are Perfect. It’s a little book of comfort & joy and I hope you love it. This morning I received another beautiful message from a reader who said, “Just got my Small Steps Are Perfect book today—when will there be a third, please…so excited!” Thanks, Ingrid. I’m grinning.

Also this:

“You’ll want to share this book, but you’ll want to keep it for yourself, so save a lot of guilt and buy two.” Love!

SmallStepsArePerfect.jpg

If you’d like to pick up a copy for you (and I hope one for a friend!), the links are below. Thank you for your support! Writers can only keep writing when readers buy and share books, and I appreciate you.

Now on to these beauties….

Can you see how delicious they are?

macarons.jpg

The pep talk: yes, you DO need to weigh everything and you DO have to be exact.

You’ll need:

  1. A scale.

  2. A fine metal strainer to sift the almond flour.

  3. Piping bag with a round tip.

  4. Almond flour, icing sugar, caster sugar, butter, vanilla, eggs, and GEL food colouring (not liquid).

Okay, let’s make this easy. All the YouTubers act like it’s rocket science but I think it can be practical and fun (that’s my take on life, actually).

The Macaron Shells:

Weigh and set aside these ingredients in separate bowls:

  • 260 grams egg whites (not from a bag…from real eggs…and at room temperature)

  • 172 grams caster sugar

  • 312 grams almond flour

  • 458 grams icing sugar

  • (You’ll add a few drops of GEL food colouring to the egg whites later)

The filling:

  • 230 grams (1 cup) butter

  • 380 grams icing sugar

  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

Make the shells:

  1. Whip egg whites to firm peaks, and gradually add caster sugar. I use my Kitchenaid mixer.

  2. Add a few drops of GEL food colouring and mix. So pretty!

  3. In a big bowl, sift almond flour and icing sugar together through a metal strainer. Discard chunky bits. Weigh again and make sure you have 770grams total weight. (Yes, you have to.)

  4. CAREFULLY and SLOWLY, mix the dry ingredients into the egg whites in your mixer until BARELY combined. I turn my mixer on and off, take it slowly and barely mix together. Nobody tells you to do it this way, but if you’re CAREFUL and don’t over mix, it saves you a lot of time and painful mixing by hand.

  5. Then you need to macronage. Transfer the mixture to a wide bowl, use a spatula or a scraper and fold, fold, fold until the mixture falls off the spatula in a ‘figure 8’ ribbon without breaking. Then stop. Don’t overmix.

  6. Pour mixture into a piping bag with a round tip.

  7. Line cookie sheets with baking paper.

  8. Pipe small 2 cm (1 inch) shells. Aim in the middle, hold the piping bag upright and squeeze a ‘dot' — it will spread a little. Whack the finished tray on the counter to remove air bubbles.

  9. THE SECRET — let dry for 30 mins to an hour. You should be able to run your finger across the top of the shell. This creates the ‘feet’ on the macaron shell.

  10. Preheat oven to 160 C fan forced. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

  11. Cool, match up the shells, then make the filling in a mixer. Whip the butter for about five minutes, add the icing sugar and the vanilla and that’s it. Pipe the filling onto one shell and top with a matching shell.

This will make more than 50+ delicious macarons. They freeze really well, and taste even better the following day. Everyone loves them.

Is it a little bit tricky? Maybe, but only the first time. That’s kind of like life, too.

Enjoy!

Love Catherine x

PS. If you need a little inspiration, please consider SMALL STEPS ARE PERFECT: Simple ways to find comfort & joy. You can find it here!

Surprise! It's new!

SS Green shirt-1.jpg

Surprise!

Happy Sunday, everybody, and hello new people. You’re so welcome here in my little corner of the internet. I have some book news to share…

Small Steps Are Perfect: simple ways to find comfort & joy!

Isn’t it pretty? I love this book!

You might love it, too. Here’s why.

  1. It’s practical.

  2. It’s an instant pick-me-up when you need some encouragement.

  3. It’s the perfect book for your bedside table—short chapters, fun stories, wisdom, reassurance…all the good things we need to feel better. Like a big sister to The 10 Minute Fix.

  4. It’s a fantastic gift for a friend—lasts longer than flowers, and it’s pretty, encouraging and fun!

You can find it here!

This book is dedicated to all of you (you’ll see when you open it!)

Here’s a sneak peek inside. Months ago, when I was writing the epigraph, I loved the synchronicity and magic of finding these words of Van Gogh’s. I’d never read them before. Amazing.

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You guys, this beautiful book is like the little engine that could…we just keep chugging on, my friends, and sometimes we need a bit of inspiration and encouragement. Comfort & joy. That’s what you’ll find here!

I’m off to celebrate with coffee and breakfast! See you next Sunday…and I hope something amazing happens for you today :)

Love, Catherine x

PS.

  • Welcome to the new people this week. So happy you’re here.

  • Stay tuned…next week I’m sharing my EASY recipe for macarons that anyone can make. One batch is probably 40-50 macarons. Buy almond flour + butter + icing sugar + gel food colouring for next Sunday .

  • Book love—with my whole heart, THANK YOU for your kindness and support! Sharing books with your friends truly helps authors keep doing what we love. I appreciate you!

3 Fun Things & Remembrance

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Friends, hello from Australia…and hi, new people! It’s Catherine (from The 10 Minute Fix book) writing to you, as promised.

It’s September 11 overseas and the 12th here in Australia, and I know the world still shares remembrances of this date. In honour of so much loss, I wanted to share three lighthearted, beautiful things amidst that memory of sorrow.

This is how I roll: when the world hands me hard, I pour back in something—anything—good.

These are tiny things, but small things also matter.

Fun #1: backyard bouquet

Today I wanted to pause a second and bring you into my kitchen. I cut some clivia from the back garden and they’re hollering Hello, Orange! on the table. Wherever you are, whatever the season, anything will do. Branches, leaves, even a few beautiful stones can look so pretty. Summer’s coming in Australia—actually feels like we’ve swooped right past spring and summer has been with us this weekend.

Fun #2: a fresh take on an old favourite

I learned the best way to cut watermelon sticks. I served them for dessert last night after a barbecue, and one of my sons said, 'Hey, it looks like a cake!’ Yes, it does, but it’s healthier and easier, too. Plus FUN.

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Fun #3: poetry

When I was an English teacher in my twenties at a beautiful private school in Victoria, British Columbia, I loved poetry with my whole heart…and I tried to show my students that it’s available to everyone.

It doesn’t have to be too tricky or tough. It can be as easy to understand as a cake recipe. It can. Not always, of course, but choose what you love. Meander until you find a poet who speaks to you.

Today, here’s Mary Oliver’s “Watering The Stones” for you. Do you know it? Am I the first friend to give it to you? The thought that I might be the giver of this poem to you for the first time fills my English-teacher heart with adrenaline.

You’ll love this one.

Watering The Stones

Every summer I gather a few stones from
the beach and keep them in a glass bowl.
Now and again I cover them with water,
and they drink. There’s no question about
this; I put tinfoil over the bowl, tightly,
yet the water disappears. This doesn’t
mean we ever have a conversation, or that
they have the kind of feelings we do, yet
it might mean something. Whatever the
stones are, they don’t lie in the water
and do nothing.

Some of my friends refuse to believe it
happens, even though they’ve seen it. But
a few others-I’ve seen them walking down
the beach holding a few stones, and they
look at them rather more closely now.
Once in a while, I swear, I’ve even heard
one or two of them saying “Hello.”
Which, I think, does no harm to anyone or
anything, does it?

- Mary Oliver
From Blue Horses, 2014

Enjoy every second of this weekend if you can. I hope you and yours are okay, despite lockdown and any sorrow. American friends, the world still remembers your loss. We do.

Love Catherine x

PS.

  • My favourite Mary Oliver poem is here.

  • My favourite writer’s pencils are here. These pencils are so dear to my heart (and I know, expensive per pencil, but I love them). I’d rather have these than takeaway coffee.

  • I’ve shared them before but I’ll say it again: my favourite exercise shorts / bike shorts are here, but I wish I’d ordered a size down. Still, love them so much. I have the buttery soft blue colour. They’re nice and long, so if you go out walking this summer, you might like them, too.

  • If you’re new and wondering what’s in those frames behind my kitchen table, it’s my favourite four stanzas from Wallace Steven’s “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.” You read about that in my book, too…xo

One Simple Celebration Idea

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Welcome into my sunny kitchen this morning, and hello to all the new people this week! It’s Catherine writing to you (from The 10 Minute Fix). Thank you for being here…every Sunday morning Australia-time I’ll send you a little upbeat note as promised. Thank you for inviting me into your inbox.

It’s Sunday celebration time around here because it’s Father’s Day in Australia…and I know we’re still in lockdown and this means that extended families can’t get together. If this is you, I hope your day is filled with Facetime, a brisk walk, a treat you love and some plans about all the parties we’ll have when our world reopens.

I know the world is so unsettled right now (Covid-Afghanistan-all the news), but we can all bring a little instant joy with this.

  1. Stand there and think about someone you love. (This sign above is in Saskatchewan, Canada!)

  2. Chocolate and strawberries.

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Want to know the secret to making the best chocolate dipped strawberries? So easy.

  1. Melt chocolate in a glass bowl set on top of simmering water in a pan on the stove. (yes, it seems to work a little better than the microwave method)

  2. Add 1 tsp vegetable oil for every block of chocolate for that nice sheen.

  3. Wash and DRY the berries thoroughly with a tea towel or paper towel.

  4. Let the melted chocolate cool a little. Then dip and place on baking paper.

  5. Most important tip — DON’T place in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. Then pop the tray in the fridge. This stops the chocolate from cracking.

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I hope you find the time today to enjoy your weekend, to rest, to treat yourself and to celebrate the fact that we’re here with a chance to love all the people we’ve been given to love.

Love Catherine x

PS.

  • Happy Father’s Day to my guy (see below!). And here’s A Tale of Lockdown Hair. The salons in Sydney have been shut forever, and I have a husband who looks like Santa Claus, an older son who looks like a black-haired Einstein, and a younger one who looks like a wild man emerging from the Colorado wilderness. But I love them so!

  • Fun stuff: it’s a little thing, but I think this is the best clothes shaver I’ve ever found, and all it takes is two AA batteries. Comes with replacement blades. Also considering these cute swimmers for summer…

  • New favourite novel (from 2014?): The Paris Wife … about Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley. Hemingway was a huge part of my education. Really enjoying it, but also sad when I think about the women’s voices that were constantly overlooked throughout history.

  • Favourite Raymond Carver poem: “The Best Time of the Day”. So romantic and true. Short and evocative. To all the Americans, your poets are so incredible.

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You Won't Want to Miss This...

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Hi my friends,

Are you ready for something lighthearted and gorgeous? I know some of you might be, with Covid lockdown…

I have three things to share today.

  1. “When you’re weary, feeling small…” This week, Austin Kleon (American artist and author of Steal Like an Artist) featured this INCREDIBLE video of Paul Simon demonstrating how he wrote “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” I get chills…if you watch it you will literally see genius happening. Oh, please watch it here. Four minutes long.

  2. This blouse. If you’re in Australia, it’s champagne-coloured, soft, drapey and so pretty. I walked out of my room with it on, and my older son (owner of the bikini comment, “Well, that’s a real poke in the eyeballs!”) said, “You look nice — like a pirate.” By the way, he’s 20, not 2!!! I laughed until I cried. Also comes in slate blue and this weird browny-orange that’s not for me, but the champagne is everything. Size up, okay? You’re aiming for pirate - ahoy! It's $15 here (you can have it home delivered). Worth it.

  3. Italian Almond Biscuits called ricciarelli — see below. Gluten free and so delicious that it’s absolutely CRAZY they have only four ingredients and are so easy to make. I’ll share the recipe next week if that’s okay. I know we’re here to talk about encouraging things, and…well sometimes cookies are encouraging. Am I right?

I am wishing you all the beautiful things today — pirate blouses and gluten-free cookies and geniuses that walk among us like Paul Simon. It’s all I can give you, all the good things I could think of.

I’m here, wondering how you’re doing.

Love Catherine x

PS.

  • The full version of Bridge Over Troubled Water.

  • A photo of the almond biscuits…oh yum. Recipe coming next week, I promise. So easy.

  • If you have a friend who needs a lift, I’d be honoured if you shared my book, The 10 Minute Fix: 100 simple ways to feel better now. Order here in Canada, Australia and America. Thank you! Word of mouth is the best way to share the love.

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How To Be An Imperfectionist

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Hello from Australia! I took this photo a few weeks ago of my favourite beach snack…not strawberries, definitely not something healthy. I chose a chocolate croissant. If I could, I’d probably choose to have one of these every day, but sadly this is adulthood and so I try not to eat like my inner child is in charge of me. :)

Still, it makes me think about all the times that I try to be more perfect (strawberries on the beach) but where I land is something far less ideal.

That’s why I loved these words from the amazing Nedra Tawwab, bestselling author of the new book Set Boundaries, Find Peace. I hope you like them too.

Imperfectionist.jpg

Today is a beautiful day to let our shoulders relax, to accept the gift of the weekend, and to let ourselves be slow and free.

I hope you have a Sunday filled with your favourite things, and that you can give yourself room and time to be imperfect. I’m going to do the same…I’m busy working on a new book for you and writing always means making peace with our imperfections. We’ll see how this one unfolds, and I can’t wait to share it.

Love Catherine x

PS.

  • If you’re in my corner of Sydney, the best chocolate croissants are at the Vietnamese Australian fusion cafe, Pottery Green.

  • Nedra Tawwab’s new book is here — I think it was an instant NYTimes bestseller.

  • Do you love learning and reading? I love reading so much and I’ll always buy and borrow books. To me, it’s miraculous that we can learn so quickly and efficiently…if you’ve got a good book to share, let me know.

The Best Dessert.

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Hello, my friends. I woke up this morning to a beautiful heavy rain, and it made me think of all things baking.

If you know me in real life, you know I absolutely love to bake, and making desserts is a close second. A few weeks ago I opened my treasured handwritten recipe book and found a classic dessert I’ve made for decades.

Chocolate Parthenons. I have no idea where the name came from and all I can tell you is that this dessert contains all the good stuff: butter, eggs, flour, sugar, chocolate chips and walnuts.

If you’re looking for something vegan, try this favourite recipe for raw brownie bites. But if you want delectable and delicious and old fashioned, Chocolate Parthenons are for you.

Ingredients (makes 6):

  • 2 eggs

  • 1/2 cup plain flour

  • 1/2 cup white sugar

  • 1/4 cup melted butter

  • 1 tablespoon vanilla

  • (optional) 1 tablespoon brewed coffee (the liquid!) or cognac or other flavouring

  • 1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

  • Package of filo pastry (you’ll use less than 1/2, that’s all…)

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  • Preheat your oven to 200C or 400F.

  • Mix all the ingredients — beaten egg, melted butter, flour, vanilla, chocolate chips, chopped walnuts.

  • Then melt some extra butter for the filo pastry sheets. Maybe around 1/4 cup? And here’s the fun part.

  • First, cut the sheet of pastry in half, brush with melted butter and place one layer on top of the other, like a crisscross or letter X. Brush that with butter, too. (Or you can drizzle and spread with clean hands…easier)

  • Then place gently in a muffin tin.

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Keep it simple and no need for perfection. Try not to break through the pastry. This is what you’re aiming for…

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Just fill it up with about 1/6 of the mixture, and pinch the top to close it. You’ll have extra bits on top, sticking up sort of merrily.

Chocolate p4.jpg

Place in a 200C oven (400F) for 8 minutes (fan forced). That’s it! You want the mixture to be melted and delicious, but not too solid.

Sorry—this photo isn’t the prettiest but Chocolate Parthenons are absolutely delicious. It’s really easy at the end of a dinner party to pop them in the oven and serve them warm. A tip: I usually make them in the afternoon, cover and pop in the fridge, then place the tin on the counter to get to room temperature before baking.

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Perfect for a rainy Sunday night dinner dessert. You’re welcome!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone.

Love Catherine x

PS.

  • Other delicious recipes from me at Love Our Age: my favourite rosemary olive oil yogurt cake. I make this one whenever I’m worried.

  • Hello everyone new—thanks for joining me every Sunday. My aim is to uplift, inspire and have a little fun. Cx