12 March 2014

Look at this! + Trust yourself


Here it is! I have two advance copies of The Simple Life. It will be published on 25 March. They arrived yesterday so I quickly took a photo, no makeup, just as I was, old T-shirt and all. I'm sure you won't mind. When I have more details about the new books, I'll let you know. This print book is also in ebook format and after this, there are six other ebooks on Down to Earth subjects. All these books can be sold internationally but I don't know the exact details yet of where you can get them. I'll have it for you soon. :- )
♥:::♥:::♥

I get a lot of emails from readers about various topics and also a lot from people who thank me for motivating them towards the changes they've made. In with all those emails are  quite a few that are full of uncertainty and indecision, so today I'd like to talk about confidence and trust. Let's be clear right up front - if you're living like we are, you're living outside the mainstream. What we do is seen as unusual and sometimes, odd.

The light rye I baked a few days ago.

There is nothing wrong with anything unusual or odd but when people who live in a more conventional way start to criticise or question the way you live, you have to be strong enough to ignore them or to stand up for your choices. Confidence often comes when you do something often enough for it to be easy, but when you're new to this lifestyle and you're trying to convince your family and friends, and maybe yourself, that what you're doing is good for you, sometimes that confidence takes a back seat. Of course, you don't have to explain anything to anyone if you don't want to but if it's going to be easier for you, explain it in a way most people will understand. They probably won't understand the need to pull back from spending but they will understand paying off debt, so tell them that - you're not doing the things you used to do so you can pay off your debt. If you want to add anything to it, say you're trying to get healthy and cutting back on the chemicals in your food and your home. Most people understand success when they see it, so if you've got a great vegetable garden, or you're making soap or bread or knitting, show what you're doing.

My new girls learning to eat real food - watermelon and grapes.

This life isn't easy. Often you'll be making what you need, be it clothing or food, and while that ends up being beneficial, choosing convenience is easier in the short term. Look at it this way. Picking up bread, soap, cleaners and prepackaged or pre-cooked meals at the supermarket is easy, but whatever you make yourself will be better for you and will usually fit well in your budget too. Convenience comes at a price because you're paying for someone else to make it for you.

Making fresh cheese from yoghurt, homemade chilli jam and Welsh onions from the backyard.

Given time, your confidence will increase. Trust yourself to know what's good for you and your family. Others don't know that. You do. And when you're sure that living a more simple life will make you happier, when you know that you'll be able to reduce your cost of living and start paying off debt, when you feel that ever-present feeling of satisfaction in knowing you can look after yourself and your family, you will stand rock solid and you won't care that you're not the same as everyone else. In fact you might just be proud of that difference.

There is a very interesting conversation about this topic over at the forum, click here to go there.


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45 comments

  1. Congratulations on your new book Rhonda!

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  2. you o make everything seem so easy, such an inspiration you are, I hope Hanno's gout is better

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  3. Yay, can't wait fpr the e-books! Funny, I was just thinking of asking when they were due out and hey presto!

    You look lovely, even without makeup - very vibrant. I can see your excitement.

    That chilli jam looks scrumptious! Will the recipe be in one of the books?

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  4. Congratulations!! Eager to read the book!!

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  5. For your American readers - Rhonda, I just pre-ordered the book from fishpond.au It's $9.50 with free shipping to the USA. Can't wait!

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  6. The new Penguin book looks great, Rhonda. Congratulations!

    I like your advice to have a few ready replies when people question simple living. We had some friends staying recently and when we said we were having pizza for dinner, they asked where the restaurant was! I found it so strange that they immediately assumed we would be eating out, and they found it equally odd that I would make the dough and they could choose the toppings themselves. At the end of the day, they loved our homemade version and couldn't believe how easy it was to make. Sometimes actions really do speak louder than words, and they came a little closer to understanding why we live like this.

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  7. Such a great blog post! Congratulations on the first little booklets, too. I`d be interested to find out if I could buy these in the UK. I now have several family members that would also appreciate a copy.
    And, by the way, I do like your look(without make-up). You have a very natural and fresh complection.
    Healthy living does you good!

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  8. Congratulations on your new book!

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  9. Congratulations and thank you for all your work and inspiration.

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  10. Congratulations on the new book Rhonda! You are spot on about trusting ( and believing in) yourself- developing strength of character will hold one in good stead through all aspects of life. Give Hanno my best too. XXX

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  11. Thanks Rhonda, you nailed it again. I've tried to live simply most of my life as it started when I was young due to financial situation in our home and my fathers poor health. It is something I've always enjoyed but my peers have seen as being weird. I've found it difficult to explain why I do the things I do, but your explanations would work well. My husband and I are now debt free and have been for over a year now, and it is an amazing feeling. We live simply as much as possible and circumstances will allow and I still implement my frugal ideas and now that our children have left home I am able to follow this way of living a lot more as I have more time to do this. It is nice to know people like us aren't alone and it is "okay" to not to conform to what is perceived by the general public as normal, simply because we have been told what normal is by the marketing companies.

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  12. Congrats Rhonda! Its funny to read that this lifestyle is odd, most of my extended family keep chickens and a garden, do preserving, bake bread etc so I never thought about it, but you are right, it is unusual these days! Glad there are people like you spreading the word :)

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  13. Congratulations on the new book! I loved the last book so can't wait to get a hold of the next. You are spot on about trusting ourselves. I had an awkward conversation about home schooling my children the other day. Awkward because, instead of confidently explaining myself, I tried to justify myself because I knew I wasn't going to receive a good reaction. I must work on a confident, concise explanation and then just leave it at that! So many people won't approve anyway, regardless of what I say. Thank you for boosting me yet again! xx

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  14. Congrats on holding your advance copies, Rhonda, you look proud as punch in that photo! :D

    Thanks for the advice on confidence, and explaining to others why we do what we do ... it's harder to articulate than it seems! (At least, in writing.)

    That photo of your chookies with the watermelon: they are such beautiful girls! The Buff coloured one in the middle is such a funny cutie she makes me want to pick her up for a cuddle.

    A couple of random thoughts. Congratulations! :)

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  15. Congratulations Rhonda on your new book!!!!

    It is a very nice feeling to have a small loan with easy repayments. We pay more than we need to so we will pay off our house loan quicker. And all this on one income! xxoo

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    1. That photo of you al a natural is a beautiful photo it shows our way of life makes our eyes sparkle and skin glow. Main stream society tells us or pressures us to wear make up. I think a healthy diet and a good homemade skin care routine is far more important. Can't wait to read your new book.

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  16. Congratulations on your new book, Rhonda. You do look young in your photo I must say.

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  17. Rhonda, how exciting! Like others have said you look so vibrant and lively without make up! I got my new licence yesterday and look like someone from the Adams family....uncle Fester with hair maybe....
    I wrote a response about your trip to tassie on my iPad yesterday and lost it all so I will try here whilst on the computer. You could combine Redhill Markets with Heronswood, I remember when they first started the markets down there, the homemade ice cream was fantastic. Tassie....Lavendar farm, up north I think, maybe go and see that gourmet farmer or some of his friends...one guy down south of Hobart has a small herd of organic cows,,, it looked so interesting. When you get back to Victoria the St Erth gardens are part the way to Ballarat so you could go to Sovereign Hill, a bit expensive but you would love some of the old skills they practice... like making bowls with tin, kind of like wood turning...and the apothecary is interesting too. Im sure you will be factoring in a trip to the Bendigo Woollen Mills so on the way you could visit Castlemaine and Malden...they are lovely historic towns if you are into that as I am. The other town that is interesting is Beechworth...and that is where Tom O'Toole started out. Oh Bakeries....the one you shouldn't miss is Redbeard in Trentham, near where the Earth Garden Magasine is produced. I did a sourdough course there that was fantastic....you won't have enough time...I am so excited for you. One more thing, try a couple of B&Bs in Tassie if you can manage it...they are delightful in the old historic homes etc. I think there are some old flour mills down there, Callington Mill I think.... I hope Hanno is on the mend...maybe he can get on the net and do some holiday planning!

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    1. Vikki, we have met in real life so I doubt very much that you'd ever look like Uncle Fester. I thought your comment got through but I just checked and it was Kaz who wrote about RedHill markets. Tricia and I have an aversion to historical reenactments so Sovereign Hill is out but I'll check out your other suggestions. Thanks Vik!

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  18. It is a shame Sovereign Hill is so commercial because some of the skills/exhibits are very interesting. They have an old candle dipping device that looks like a small ferris wheel maybe 12 to 20 feet high from iron bridge in england.A rack is taken down and dipped then revolved and by the time you get to the first one again it can be redipped. I too am not enamoured with reenactments but I can get past it to look at what does interest me. You will have such a great time...

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  19. Congrats Rhonda! How wonderful to have it in your hands.

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  20. Congratulations on the book :)

    Sometimes it can get tiring explaining a different way of life to others, I think I spent a lot of time trying to make people understand in the beginning about living the way we do, but after a while it can be distracting, so I learned the head down, tail up approach and if anybody was curious about our lifestyle they could just see the results.
    Time, practise and experience definitely make you stronger and more confident. You have to work to get there though, no other way around it! And then it's a refining process :)

    Blessings x

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  21. I never wear make-up (I don't even own any, much to my mother-in-law's horror!), so I always love seeing pictures of other ladies without any, and you look beautiful Rhonda :)

    That bread looks delicious. It is one of my goals for this year to try baking bread from scratch. I've got the flour and yeast, I just need (knead? hehe) to take the plunge!

    I can't wait for your new book. My Dad bought me your first one and it has become a regular talking point between he and I. He retired about 6 months ago, and although he has always been very careful with money he is making an effort to enjoy living simply. You have inspired us both, and I want to thank you for the wisdom and ideas you have given us :)

    Larissa Zarafa (normally signed in as Larissa Jade, no idea why my account is fluffing up!)

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  22. Congratulations, another reason to celebrate with some home made lemonade!! Regards Kathy A, Brisbane

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  23. My WORD - the book looks great and SO DO YOU! XO Hearty congratulations from all of us XO

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  24. My daughter is wondering what kind of chicken is the orangey one with the feathers that stick all out in the group chicken photo. How adorable!

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  25. I have just pre-ordered your book on fishpond.co.nz too :) Can't wait to receive it :)

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  26. Congratulations on your new book Rhonda. Your current book is a constant reference source for me and I thank the fates that introduced me to you. Confidence increases as you have some successes, it spurs you on to the next thing you want to achieve. It is such a wonderful feeling to be proud of something you are accomplishing by yourself and the rewards are visible almost immediately. To anyone hesitating I would say....Just Do It! :)

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  27. Congratulations, what a lovely parcel to open!

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  28. Hi Rhonda

    Congratulations on your new book! I've just pre-ordered mine on fishpond.com.au for $15.44 AUD with free delivery. Looking forward to receiving it!

    Hope Hanno is continuing to improve

    xx

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  29. Congratulations on your book/s. You look just fine Rhonda. No makeup and an old t-shirt just like me most days :-)

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  30. Congratulations!!

    And, really now, you are just teasing me with those photos of your rye bread ;)

    -Jaime

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  31. Congratulations on your new book! I'll keep an eye out for it, as it will probably be sold at the same place I've just bought your first book from - a specialist book shop in Collingwood (inner suburb of Melbourne).
    Of course you look good without make up - we all do, if we could just get over a few thousand years of slapping stuff on our faces in the belief that we look better with it than without... now THAT's living simply.

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  32. Congratulations! I`m looking forward to finding your book when it is published in UK.

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  33. Congratulations, Rhonda! You look wonderful, beaming with self-love and trust! Your first book is a bit of a bible in our busy household and we are trying every day to slow down and live more simply so this gorgeous print edition will be a welcome addition. x

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  34. Congratulations Rhonda! Some fantastic advice.

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  35. Congratulations, Rhonda! And no,I don't mind. You look so cute in the snap; all beaming and happy.

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  36. how exciting a new book!

    I borrowed your last one from the library and loved it so much I brought a copy. I pop on to this site every now and again when I feel I need a little uplifting :) It's like coming home.

    I'm a simple down to earth goddess in progress... I am very proud to say that since reading your book I now have herbs growing in baskets on my deck, tomatoes in a make shift veggie patch, am using my first home made laundry liquid and have got my first batch of soap drying out. I also made your cheese crackers, condensed milk and sweet biscuits all with immense satisfaction.

    That bread looks delicious!! That's next on my list of things to try.

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  37. Ooo I can't wait for the books!

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  38. i am so looking forward to reading your new book(s) rhonda! your last book is still one of my favorites. :)

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