Catherine Greer's Blog, page 2

Celebrate!

Happy weekend!

Do you have a good reason to celebrate?

Maybe a better question is this: are you the kind of person who needs a reason? I’m not. I’m the kind of person who will gladly, happily whip up a ‘celebration’ just because it’s FUN.

I love to use my pretty glasses — like these champagne coupes — even if all I’m pouring is a fizzy drink. I love to set the table, put out a few snacks, turn on the music and call out, “Come celebrate!” Maybe I drive my family crazy, but I do this all the time.

Light a few tea lights, dig out the good china, turn on some music — and find an attitude of joy and appreciation. It’s basically all free, and accessible for most of us, most of the time.

(But here’s the truth, too: I know that maybe things are hard for you right now in some area of your life. Maybe it’s health, or kids worrying you, or finances or work. Maybe you have a relationship that isn’t great, or you’re struggling with your own thoughts. I know things can be hard because I feel the same. Things get hard around here, too.)

But I also know this: obsessive thinking about what isn’t working never makes my life better. Never.

The weekend is a perfect time to celebrate something.

Look for it right now and you’ll find it — even one tiny thing that lights you up and makes you grateful.

Please try. Grab the glasses, light the candles. It will make you feel better, and you’ll be a hero to the people you love.

Love Catherine x

PS.

These champagne coupes are so pretty and so crazily affordable! Worldwide shipping…and they’ll come from Australia.

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How to move the dial toward your dreams

Do you know how?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately — about how to do all the things I have to do, and still prioritise what will get me closer to my goals.

Why is working on our dreams so hard to do?

Honestly, I don’t think it’s an issue of self-esteem so much as it’s an issue of practicality.

We know we matter and we know our dreams and goals matter, too. But often we do all the small tasks first (clean up the kitchen, answer the emails, make that phone call, walk the dog and on and on it goes) — and we promise ourselves this:

“Once I take care of these urgent things — once I clear some space for myself — I’ll sit down and do the thing that’s important for me.”

Write the book. Exercise. Research the new job opportunity. Write the song lyrics. Plan the app. Explore your business idea.

Put it first in your day, and it will get done.

Because here’s the truth: the emails, the kitchen, the dog, your workplace — all of that is another person’s priority, not yours. That’s the world asking you to put its needs first. Yes, it’s important. But so are you.

If you want to move the dial on your own life, you have to work on your goal as if it’s the most important thing.

Do your thing first.

That’s how I wrote my books. That’s how I’m writing one now. Like your life, mine is busy: work, family, lots of housework, shopping, cleaning, laundry, gardening, side hustles in copywriting, preparing book talks at schools for my novel).

But if I want to get the new book written, it has to come first.

A page a day for 365 days is a book. A workout a day for 365 days is a fit body.

Can you put your dream first? Yes.

Enjoy your Sunday! Have some fun, and be fun to live with.

Catherine x

P.S.

Welcome if you’re new! Fun posts on getting happier in one minute, a new way to look at yourself, and thoughts on feeling young (or old).

Why the photo of Jennifer Lawrence? I was searching through my phone for an image of myself to use since I’ve had a lot of new readers sign up to my blog lately (& I want you to see what I look like!). But I came across this one of Jennifer Lawrence wearing Dior. I loved the outfit and obviously took a screen shot at some point. Jennifer Lawrence — a beautiful, talented actor. I’m guessing she prioritised her dream.

This Romanesque-style building in Sydney is so incredible — designed by American architect Edward Raht. Have you seen it?

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Mistakes, books and Sunday winter mornings...

This Sunday morning, with my coffee and my dog-on-lap, I’m thinking about mistakes.

I’ve made a few. And if you’re of a certain age, I know you have, too. What I think is this: they don’t matter. Truly, they don’t. What happens in life is that we live around our mistakes like sand in an oyster. The trick is to transform the sand into a pearl.

Learn from mistakes.

Grow around them.

Maybe even write about them.

Share a couple of life lessons with your best friend or your kids.

Then this: forgive yourself for not knowing better. (Or for knowing better but not doing better). And move on.

I read Liz Gilbert’s new novel, City of Girls, and came across this important line.

It’s true.

If you need it, here’s a quick encouragement: carry on. When your mind gets stuck on your one big mistake, remember this: it’s likely that you are the only person thinking about it right now. You are choosing to relive it, and you can choose to stop.

The weekend is the perfect time to refocus on all the good things you’ve got. Remember what it’s like to feel lucky? It’s a better feeling than remorse over things we can’t change.

Today I’m signing off with a hot cup of coffee and two things that make me lucky. On my kitchen table, magnolia grandiflora from an Australian tree in winter. So lucky! I wish you could smell the scent: like sweet candy, spicy verbena, tart lemon, citrus-honey.

And for pet-people, a sweet little puppy-on-lap…she smells like vanilla pet shampoo. Hard to blog with a dog on your lap, but it’s possible.

Enjoy your Sunday, everyone. Have some fun today — you deserve it.

Love Catherine x

A story about luck...

About a year ago, a favourite friend of mine gave me the best advice I’d ever heard — and she didn’t even know it. She told me a story about her grandmother who, of all crazy things, actually won the lottery! And she ended the story with a line I will never forget: “My grandmother always said she was born lucky.”

That phrase stuck with me, and I decided right then and there, at fifty years old, that I was born lucky too.

I whisper this to myself all the time, over big things and small.

Silly, right? But actually very helpful.

When something great happens, I remind myself that I was born lucky. When I’m worried, I tell myself that I was born lucky — and that everything will be okay in the end.

Because here’s the truth: we are all born lucky. Aren’t we?

We have everything: a place to live, clean water, safety and friends. Most of us have family or people to love. Feeling lucky is being grateful for every good thing, and even the smallest things are good.

My husband, who used to serve in the military in Canada and Australia, always says to me, “If no one is shooting at me, it’s a good day.” He’s partially joking, of course, but that’s true perspective, isn’t it?

I was born lucky.

You were, too.

Enjoy your weekend. (So lucky — we all have a weekend!) Remember to have some fun.

Love Catherine x

PS.

Photos are from my favourite beach in the world! Take a look here. Yesterday was such a beautiful winter’s day.

And…excited! Look at what I learned to bake. Macarons!! It took me three tries to perfect the recipe (and yes, it’s tricky), but the result was amazing. Email me if you want me to blog the recipe for you. They’re gluten-free and can be dairy free, too.

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An important question to ask yourself...

It’s winter in Australia, and one of the things I love to do is walk around my own suburb. It’s totally showing off right now. Sydney is so pretty and I keep taking photos of trees!

I’m also doing a lot of night walking, which is my favourite. It gives me time to think and dream up new novels, and just figure out what I want to be doing with what I think of as “my last half: 50 to 100.”

This week, I was listening to a Rachel Hollis podcast while I walked and she asked a question that I loved. She was talking about starting something new, or tackling a challenge.

The part that got me is “No B.S.” Because if you’re even a bit like I am, you spend a least a little time B.S.-ing yourself about what you’re going to do before you actually DO IT.

No B.S. What would it take to work full time and write a book?

No B.S. What will it take to start a side hustle?

Or this one… No B.S. What will it take to actually improve my health?

Such a great question. I hope you like it, too.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone! I’m thinking of you today.

Love Catherine x

PS.

Need help with a new goal? My smart and savvy American friend, Victoria, runs 31 Crush every August. So much fun! Email: victoria@beingmemovement.com to learn more! Or go to the Being Me Movement website.

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These Three Words Changed My Marriage

A while ago I was listening to a podcast, and the guest said three words that really stuck with me.

Paper Towel People.

“When things go wrong,” she explained, “some people are worriers or shouters or blamers. And some people just grab the paper towels.”

So true. Whether it’s a tiny, literal problem — the kid has spilled his milk AGAIN — or something much much bigger, you have two choices. Freak out, or grab the paper towels.

The truth is that we can’t fix anything when we sit in the problem. We have to switch our brains into solution mode. If we can do this quickly — the quicker the better — we can get to the other side and solve what’s wrong.

As a writer, I am truly great at imagining all sorts of scenarios and playing them out in my mind as if they are real. It’s a fabulous quality when you’re writing books, but a little less fabulous when you’re in relationships.

I’m dramatic. My brain loves to worry and stew. So I’m trying to switch over to being a Paper Towel Person. Calm, solution-focused, ready to act…not speculate or inflame. It’s hard work, but it’s worth it. And yes, all my relationships — being a mum and being married — are so much better because of it.

What about you? Paper Towel Person or not (yet)? It’s worth considering for the sake of all the people we love.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone! Have some fun, and be fun to live with…

Love Catherine x

PS.

Take a look at this beautiful married couple: life goals!

Hello to all the new people this week! Some fun posts: a great party tip, playing big and playing small, a string quartet in our music room at home.

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You asked for Carrot Cake!

Happy Sunday!

Did you know this about me? When I worry, I bake. And when I’m happy, I bake. (It’s fun being my co-worker and my friend!) I’m always surprised when people say they can’t bake. To me, it’s the most creative, beautiful experience: the warm oven, the anticipation your family feels when they walk through the kitchen, the shared treat at the end, the gifting to people you love.

All of it, for me, is joy.

I know — sugar. But my rationale is this: a cake — like a dress — makes a day special. Put on a dress and people appreciate it. Bake a cake, and people love it. I don’t bake all the time, but when I do, it makes me happy.

So last week: 1980s Carrot Cake…with cream cheese frosting. On Instagram, you said you wanted the recipe.

Yes, it tastes old-fashioned and yes, it uses a tin of crushed pineapple and an entire block of cream cheese. My friend Tammy shared this recipe with me, and I’ve made it twice since.

Carrot Cake

(To make enough for a layer cake — two round tins)

2 cups grated carrot

400g tin of crushed pineapple, drained

2 cups plain flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda (bi-carb soda here in Australia)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

10 tablespoons oil

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Place all dry ingredients in a bowl. Add eggs and oil, then stir in carrot, pineapple and walnuts. Mix well. Pour into two cake tins, greased and lined on the bottom with baking paper. Bake at 180 C / 350 F for 35 to 40 mins. Test for doneness in your oven! When a toothpick comes out clean, it’s baked. Cool on a rack.

Cream Cheese icing

There’s a trick: soften the cream cheese and the butter! Make sure the butter and cream cheese are really well combined with no lumpy bits.

250g cream cheese (the large block!)

125 g butter

500 g icing sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix the butter and cream cheese well in a mixer. Then add icing sugar and extract and mix until smooth.

Now, the fun part!

I like to cut each cake in two.

Just place Cake #1 on the plate, then slice off the top with a bread knife. Spread some icing on the ‘bottom’ cake half. You don’t need to be perfect, but spread a layer.

Top with the other half of Cake #1.

Spread some icing on top of Cake #1.

Put Cake #2 on top. Slice off the top half of Cake #2, and add a layer of icing, then put the top on.

Then ice the whole thing.

You can try to be perfect here if you want to, but my goal is this.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone. Have some fun, and be fun to live with!

Love Catherine x

PS.

The rosemary lemon cake — it’s my favourite.

The best ever chocolate cake — our go-to family birthday cake.

Bill Granger’s flourless chocolate cake — fussier, but we also love this one for birthdays.

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What are your simple (family) pleasures on vacation?

Hello and happy Sunday…from the middle of a Sydney winter.

Right now, families in Australia are poised to head into a well-deserved term break from school. That’s three weeks without packing lunches or driving to sport, and plenty of time to enjoy the simple things in life.

And overseas, school is nearly out and summer beckons…

So when I read these three questions by Brene Brown, author, professor and researcher, I really wanted to share. Brene asked her family three questions to create the kind of vacation that truly inspired a “rest” for them.

Simple, but genius.

We rarely take the time to think about this. We do a lot of things that are supposed to be relaxing or fun, but sometimes this just means it’s fun for other people. And if we’re honest, it’s not what we love. Two examples: reading and travel. Supposed to be fun for everyone, but really they’re not.

What is fun for me? What is a “rest” for me?

It’s worth rediscovering.

Enjoy your weekend, and I hope you have some (real) fun today…

Love Catherine x

PS.

Fun for me is cooking! I hope you tried last week’s Rosemary Lemon Cake or my apple pie!

Book news: I’m excited to start chatting with teen girls at high schools about all the themes in my novel, Love Lie Repeat. So thankful for my two books this year.

Lemon Rosemary Yogurt Cake And A Secret...

Yesterday I made this Lemon Rosemary Yogurt Cake. Today, the cake is gone. It was a simple story of cake love, and I wanted to share it with you here.

Imagine snipping rosemary in your garden, zesting two lemons (or oranges), squeezing the juice.

Imagine how your kitchen smells when you chop the rosemary, and rub the lemon zest and herbs into sugar until it’s fragrant and damp.

The rest is easy. And the result is divine: a grown up cake, with a dusting of icing sugar. You might have all the ingredients in your house now.

Preheat your oven to 160 C, fan forced, or 325 F in North America.

2 small lemons or oranges, zested and juiced

2 Tablespoons snipped rosemary

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup Greek yogurt

1 cup olive oil

2 cups self-raising flour (or 2 cups plain flour with 3 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt)

Here’s what to do next:

Add the sugar, zest and rosemary to a bowl. Rub until damp. (Your kitchen will smell delicious.)

Add the eggs and whisk until pale and thick.

Beat in the lemon OR orange juice and Greek yogurt.

Sift in the flour and mix. Pour into a round cake tin.

Bake for 45 - 50 minutes. (Please — start checking at 40 minutes with a toothpick. It should come out clean.)

Eat a slice in the sun, or for us today in Sydney, in the rain…

And while you do, consider this: the best happiness tip I know. I use it all the time. When the world throws something hard at me, I turn around and do some good. Tim Ferriss puts it this way in his book, Tools of Titans.

Happy Sunday, my friends. I hope you all get your cake and eat it, too.

Love Catherine x

PS.

How to stop thinking about something and remembering my brother.

The original cake recipe above is from Hetty McKinnon, who used to live in Sydney before she moved to Brooklyn.

The best (parenting) advice ever...

This week, I had the pleasure of attending parent-teacher interviews. It’s always fun for me because I know what it’s like to sit on both sides of the table.

I know the code-words teachers use in interviews and I love teenagers.

I snapped this photo as I left the hall. Wisdom and respect: the boys’ bags and their boaters. (Did you know that in Australia, the schoolboys are taught to tip their hats to women and girls as a sign of respect? To me, it’s a beautiful tradition.)

When I walked to my car, I thought of the best parenting advice I know. Just one simple line:

It improves every relationship. Every single one.

Tell me more gives breathing room to the people we love. Try it with someone (anyone) today and you’ll see what I mean.

Enjoy your weekend. Have some fun, and be fun to live with!

Love, Catherine x

PS.

HIgh schools in my city are booking me in to talk about all the juicy topics in Love Lie Repeat: perfectionism, helicopter parenting, overwhelmed teens, competition. I’m so excited. My idea of a good time is a kitchen table full of teenagers, and hearing their thoughts. Tell me more.

Cracks in the Sidewalk by Austin Kleon. I see beauty in unlikely places, too. Do you? It’s a talent :)

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