She Talked

Tonight’s “She Talked” is the gorgeous Natalie Lands; woman, wife, mother and proud owner of Adelaide’s brand newest venue “Ten22” I have only met this gal a handful of times but she feels like an old friend! Her generosity, spirit, passion and drive for excellence and a taste for class is captivating. Not only does she juggle the role of all three hats she is gearing up for the launch of her “third” baby – a boutique Spanish flavored home away from home!

A virtual round of applause for tonight’s company x x

What would your best friend say about you?
Interesting! I called her up as I find this question most embarrassing! This is what she said! “Friendly, balanced, wise, hospitable, easy-going, generous & helpful” Awww I have the most beautiful friends!!!

Tell us about your typical day in a few sentences?
Each day really is so different. Must have a caffeine hit first thing in the morning! I do the morning drop kids off to school, then hit the office running. I love showing people thru our venue. Its exciting meeting new people and talking about how we can help make their event extra special.

What is one thing that is taking up a lot of your “though” life?
For this season the venue is probably taking most of my thought life! We want our venue to go above and beyond every expectation. From the service we give people, to the food we serve to the atmosphere that is created for each event. So a lot of time and thought is taken on how we can achieve the best experience for our clients.

If you could go back and tell your 15yr old self one thing, what would it be?
To be strong and courageous, and not let self doubt and intimidation hold me back.

What is the most helpful piece of advice anyone has given you?
“The smaller fish are always the sweetest” Even the smallest of things are often the most important and most rewarding!

If you created a bumper bar sticker what would it say?
“The smaller fish are always the sweetest”

What is one tip you would give for balancing your personal and professional life?
I think this is always a challenge and still a working progress but I try to always keep perspective on what is really important in life. For me its my family, the people I love. And always remembering at the end of each day there’s’ always another! Knowing time management, when its work time its work, and when its family time work is nowhere to be seen!

When you are down in the dumps how do you get yourself back up?
Phone a friend ha ha ! Literally! I’m not the kind of person to hold things in I have to get my thoughts & feelings out. I have some beautiful people in my life that I trust and will always give great perspective! Other than that a piece of chocolate & cup of tea does go a long way!

What couldn’t you live without?
My toothbrush!

What is one of the proudest moments of your life?
Giving birth to my two beautiful children! I know it sounds cliché but it took approximately 12 years to fall pregnant, so I feel so blessed to have them!

What is your definition of success and/or failure?

This is a very deep question ! My moTto is always “if at first you don’t succeed try & try again.” Never give up on your dreams.

What gets you fired up?
Injustice

How do you nurture ALL of you?
At the moment I don’t think I do!! Really need to work on that! Any tips?

Seinfeld or Friends?
Both

Hamish or Andy?
How can you separate them?! Both so funny!

What has been your favourite travel destination and why?
Haven’t really travelled a lot so if my husband is reading this PARIS PLEASE!!!!!

What character of a movie would you LOVE to play?
Angelina Jolie in tomb raider! Would love to do all those stunts!

In your business, what is the most rewarding experience?
Being a part of someone’s’ special day & celebration in their life. A significant commitment, a special celebration, a birthday….its a real honour to be part of it.

https://www.facebook.com/TEN22BV?ref=br_tf

http://www.ten22.com.au

“She Talked”

We thought it might be interesting to know the faces behind “Eshé Counselling” and “She Talked” as we kick off 2014. Tonight’s interview is with Lisa Bondarenko who candidly shares a view into her personal world, some of her triumphs, trials and ultimately some of her key ingredients in “doing” life!

What would your best friend say about you?

What I would like them to say about me might be different, but I think they would say that I was fun, generous and colourful?!!!

If you could go back and tell your 15yr old self one thing, what would it be?

Be true to yourself, “normal” is not the epitome of success and invest in amazing people.

What is the most helpful piece of advice anyone has given you?
Tomorrow is always a new day….(thanks Mum!)

If you created a bumper bar sticker what would it say?
“Slow walkers – you kill me!”
(baaaahaaaaaa there is some context but will leave that alone for this audience )

What is one tip you would give for balancing your personal and professional life?

Well balance is the word most of us don’t do well, but I truly think it is about being in tune with your own needs, desires and not being influenced by what you “should, could or would” be doing in comparison to others.

AND personal ALWAYS come first for me no matter what!

Famous five you would invite to your place for dinner?
Hamish Blake – seriously he makes me have asthma attacks from laughing!
Alicia Keyes – amazing entertainer, humanitarian and sass
Keith Urban – I love him (metaphorically) hmmmm duet with Alicia?
Christine Caine – A21 Campaign – enough said…
Mother Theresa – to look “grace” in the eyes

When I look back on my life I remember….
To whom much is given, much is expected so get on with it…

When you are down in the dumps how do you get yourself back up?
Hmmmm its an interesting one because the problem is I know what I “should” be doing from a textbook perspective! However, I do allow myself a small pity party – hey I throw a good one but it has a cut off time and then its about taking control mainly of my mind and I have been known to give myself a stern talking to in the mirror!!!!

What is one of the proudest moments of your life?
Hands down the birth of my baby boy – he was worth the years and tears!

What is your definition of success and/or failure?
I only believe in success – even if I try and fail, at least of tried. Hmmmm, maybe failure is not having the guts to fail?

What is one of the most challenging seasons of your life and what got you through?

8 years of infertility, more heart ache and trauma I care to share and being lost in a medical system who labeled me a “hopeless” cause would probably be classified as a “challenging season”.

It affected every area of my life, my self esteem took a massive hit and is still in the process of being rebuilt, my marriage which is one of my most cherished relationships was tested in every area, my faith was brought to “its knees” quite literally, I lost and distanced myself from certain friends, I gained amazing new ones and learnt a whole lot about myself, grief, loss, and the beauty of life along the way.

Even though especially towards the end it was the size of a “mustard seed” my faith and trust in God that somehow he would turn “all things around for good” – even if that meant my dream of having a baby never came true was my foundation and kept me “sane”. (just)

I became incredibly protective of my heart and soul, which included removing myself from situations and people even very close ones who inadvertently disappointed and hurt me.

I learnt that tenacity was in fact a great weapon albeit the trait that sometimes created more tears and heartache along the way!

I chose a mindset.

I cried more tears than I thought physically possible.

I enlisted a support crew of counselors who without doubt kept my head above water with encouragement, hope, and tools for the road. #foreverthankful

I never gave up hope despite the grim picture.

I didn’t take the doctors word as gospel.

I pushed boundaries.

What gets you fired up?

Hands down; injustice of any kind it can keep me up at night!

Which three things would you take on an island for one week?

As a pasty white, freckle faced chick the options are limited to sunscreen, a burka, and canopy….I dream about being the bikini, coconut drinking, spear fishing mermaid but sometimes a girl just needs to be realistic!!

What is your greatest hope for 2014?

Health and wellbeing in every area of my world. For continuing incredible relationships, enough professional opportunities to challenge and stretch me, and for simple, old fashioned fun.

How do you nurture ALL of you?

I need “me” time like oxygen – that doesn’t mean weekends away it can be as simple as half an hour to “people watch” over coffee, or a walk.
Regular date nights with my hubby – #nonnegotiable.
Exercise and healthy eating.
Not going to lie – shopping is VERY nurturing for me!!!
Hanging with my family and friends.
I need to belly laugh regularly – the good news is I can laugh at myself which is helpful!

Seinfeld or Friends?

It’s a tough call but I would go with Seinfield…still makes me laugh and sometimes Rachel and Ross are just plain annoying!

What goal have you set yourself?

Late last year I brought to life a five year dream and launched “Mind Heart Body” which is a new womens health retreat being run in April of this year in Adelaide – all things health and wellbeing! http://www.mindheartbody.com.au

And I will finish the book I am writing….

What book are you reading at the moment?

Dr Caroline Leaf “Switch on your brain”

What has been your favourite travel destination and why?

I have been so fortunate to have travelled extensively but I would say Amalfi Coast, Italy is a stand out – my honeymoon PLUS those Italians know how to eat and dress…what more is there to life??

What character of a movie would you LOVE to play?

Ask any of my friends – I would be happy to play a tree…. I just want to be famous 

In your business, what is the most rewarding experience?

Watching people overcome obstacles that could quite take them out of the game of life. Receiving a text from someone across the other side of the world achieving their goals with a “thank you for encouraging me – I DID IT” will NEVER get old!

I am humbled daily at the gift I have been given to do what I do.