I'm always on the hunt to get some  good information about what to look for when buying good quality shoes. 

One of my customers from Melbourne recently sent me the fact sheet published by Victorian Paediatric Orthopedic Network (VPON). VPON fosters collaboration among paediatric orthopaedic care providers in Victoria. It is supported by the four specialist providers: Barwon Health, Monash Children’s at Southern Health, the Royal Children’s Hospital and Western Health.

I would love to share this with you as one of the reasons to have this blog is to raise awareness about importance of 'good" shoes for young children. I would love all moms  to learn how to choose a footwear that is a child's friend, not an enemy, and the shoes which will shape their feet properly, not damage it. I feel like there isn't enough information out there, and the topic about shoes is very much missed. 

Here are some valuable information straight from that fact sheet and then at the bottom, you see the link to the website and the full facts sheet. 

Most children begin to walk from around 12 to 18 months of age. For babies learning to walk, bare foot are best, so babies  can feet what they touch with their feet. Soft-soled, non-slip bootees are good way to keep them warm in cold weather and for protection if walking or crawling on rough surfaces.

Young children do not need to wear shoes until they have been walking on their own for about six weeks, and will need shoes to protect their feet outside. Shoes should fit well, and allow a little room for growth.

What to look for when buying shoes?

it is helpful to take your child to an experienced shoe fitter (never heard of one but will do more research on it)

• The sole of the shoe should be firm but lightweight and flexible. Check that the sole can bend near the toe (see figure 2 on the bottom of the post).​
• The front part of the shoes should be wider than the heel. This matches the natural shape of the foot  (see figure 3 on the bottom of the post).
• Shoes should have a firm heel cup. This means that the shoe or sandal should have a solid back. You should not be able to squeeze the sides of the back of the shoe together.
• Buckles and laces may provide more support than Velcro and elastic fasteners, especially for children with very narrow feet.

I'm very pleased and proud to say that our shoes tick all the boxes. We are 100% meeting the criteria of the paediatric association.   

I hope this post helped you at least a  bit to make an informative decision about  good shoes for your son, daughter, grandchild, nice, nephew, etc.

If you have read it, please leave a comment. It will mean a lot to me and encourage me to write more.

Thank you for sharing your valuable time to read my post.
​
Iwona (Vonnie)

Here is the link to view the factsheet (scroll all the way down to see the pdf) 
https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/about/publications/policiesandguidelines/Shoes

​Today Gucio celebrates his first Birthday in Australia... how exciting.. The brand itself has been on the market for much longer (23 years) and hopefully it will continue...

Looking back it feels like Gucio has been part of my life for much longer, not only for over a year. I have fallen in love with those cute, handmade leather shoes and I'm very pleased that the brand had found its fans here on the other side of the world.

A bit of a history today... How this all started... the owner and founder, Slawomir Piwowarczyk couldn't find good shoes for his children over 23 years ago, and  decided to make them from scratch..  The original idea was only for the pure purpose of getting good quality shoes for his kids, but then his friends asked Slawek to make shoes for their children, and so on..  There was a demand for a product, that was never made for a commercial scale..  What I love about Gucio is that there is no big marketing campaign behind, it's word of mouth as the shoes are so good, there is no need to advertise it. They are 100% hand made out of the best quality material, Slawek buys the leather from the best tanneries in Poland and does everything from the scratch.   In today's world, when a lot of things are done by the machines,the handcraft is something I really appreciate. that's one of the biggest points  as why I decided to work with Slawek and promote Gucio shoes here in Australia.

Once people try it, they love it and recommend it to their friends... The time will only shows if Gucio can stay here, but i strongly believe there is a gap for this type of a product in Australia.

Gucio are hand made, Here you can see how they are made. I find it quite fascinating 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXq5jBfNCR8&feature=emb_title 

Thank you for supporting my small business, it is because of  you that I'm still here and I hope i can continue throughout the harder times ahead of us


Iwona



​

I like to start by looking at the definition of the topic that I'm writing about :

comfortable in one's own skin
(idiomatic) Relaxed and confident in one's manner of presenting oneself and interacting with others; conveying the impression that one has a clear, satisfying understanding of one's own abilities and situation.

We all have that one friend who is so clearly comfortable with herself. She's friendly, she shares her thoughts, stands with confidence, and doesn't seem to have a self-conscious bone in her body. And while that's great for her, if you don't feel comfortable in you own skin, it can be difficult to relate. 

It all comes down to self-worth — feeling that you are truly of value, no matter how you look or act or think or what others think of you. Not feeling comfortable in one’s own skin means not accepting who you truly are—seeing your strengths and weaknesses and learning to embrace them and work on personal growth as needed. Too many of us think 'If I just looked better, were skinnier, were more successful, then I’d feel comfortable in my own skin,' but it’s not about that at all.

Thinking that most women have complexes (including the most beautiful women), who also aren't happy about some parts of their body is kind of comforting. It also shows that we all have our own little struggles and things we don't like about ourselves, which is completely fine.  I think what's important is to accept the things we cannot change and change things we can..  We are way too hard on ourselves and put too much pressure on ourselves.. That big nose, disgusting skins, bags under eyes, fat, huge legs, etc..are mostly ONLY in our heads. Other people don't see it - they probably don't care about it too...

We are trying to be like the influences we see on Instagram, in the movies, on Facebook, etc. They look perfect - skinny with beautiful make up and amazing clothes on.. Look again and put in your head that these are unrealistic images,,, those women have their own personal trainers, dietitians, make up artist, wardrobe advises, and much more time that an average woman has..  and of course money money... 

If you are average women in Australia (size 14-16) you should consider yourself pretty happy. You have an amazing body, legs that take you from A to B ,arms that allow to hug your close ones, and do many other things, and brains which allow you to think...  Maybe your body doesn't appear perfect but if you are a mother, that body gave birth to a life. Isn't that incredible and something to cherish and be proud of? 

Accept yourself and love yourself, there is so many women out there who would give everything to be in your skin.  I know it can be hard to digest but that's true.

I'm very hard on myself too, and I know that it takes a lot to accept yourself but I did,, ,I even like myself too, because you can love someone but not necessary like them.. I love and like myself... 

Make it your new resolution for tomorrow - accept, love and like yourself - you are amazing and unique.

​Iwona
​

If you look in the dictionary it will tell you that the definition of friendship is a state of being friends; friendly relation, or attachment, to a person, or between persons; affection arising from mutual esteem and good will; friendliness; amity; good will. That all sounds nice, but it doesn’t cover the fact that a true friendship is a relationship that can survive the test of time and remain unconditional.

Friendship can mean different things to different people. Fro some people it is simply the trust that someone will not hurt you. For others it might be unconditional love or just normal companionship. Whatever your own definition is, friendship is often considered as a mutual and agreeable relationship between two individuals, and that’s a good thing, as it has been said that a person who finds a true friend has found a priceless treasure.
 
Friendship is rarely one-sided though, as it takes two individuals to negotiate the boundaries in a relationship and a friendship will not survive very long if only one person is making the effort to sustain the relationship without any help or recognition from other person. Because it takes both positive and negative experiences to define a personality, it is essential to build your friendships with people who are compatible with you on both an emotional and psychological basis.

The reason for this post today is my recent struggles with people, some I thought were my friends and some possible friends...  We all know the relationships are hard, and it seems a bit like that with friendships too.  I have experienced a number of 'friendships", where I was the only one maintaining and making contact.  I organised bbqs, dinners, coffee catch ups, camping, movies etc... .  After a while I felt used, and  not important to my 'friends'.  It seemed all fine but I missed that input from another person.  What kind of true friends don't make any attempt to contact me? I'm not talking about every day, we are all busy and have our lives and responsibilities (I get that) but how come can you share and post 10 times a day on Facebook but you have no 5 minutes  to message and ask how am I going? Is it too much to ask? I don't think so...

So i decided to stop messaging my 'friends' and see what happens... Guess what? Majority just left it and no contact was made for months .. As long as I kept it going it was all sweet,, but unfortunately one sided friendships don't last very long...  It takes two to tango.. I felt so disappointed , and really gutted. People, who I thought cared about me really cared about themselves only. It hurts, and it hurts a lot.. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...  I built resilience, and learn to keep the people, for whom I am important, and who care for me as much as I care for them. My circle of friends shrank significantly in the last year, but  I feel so much happier to have around true friends.... 

I say NO to people, who only message or call me when they need something, I say NO to people who don't give anything back, I say NO to energy eaters.

We can't choose our family but luckily we can choose our friends... Look around your circle to see who are the people you socialize with? Are they worth being in your life? Or maybe you are the one neglecting the friendships...  maybe it's time to give a little bit more to people you care about?

I'm not saying I"m a perfect friend.. I'm not.. But I try my best to be active in my friend's life as much as I can. 

I compare the friendship to a relationship - if you are not working on it, it will die. It is a commitment and it takes a lot to maintain a good friendships but the rewards are so worth it!!!  

'In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips'.

'Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart - Eleanor Roosevelt

'A good friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have' -  Irish Proverb

'Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm & constant '- Socrates

Iwona

​

Another year, and new's years resolutions, it's like a new beginning..  We find this new motivation to achieve things we failed last year or maybe there is new goals...  1 January comes and it feel like we can move the mountains...

Let's look at some stats.. And a bummer.. they don't look great... About 60% of us admit that we make New Year's resolutions but only 8% are successful in achieving them (pretty sad, don't you think).  Regardless of whether we achieved our previous resolutions, most of us go right ahead and make a new sets- hoping they will succeed this time...

Here are some interesting facts about the New Year's resolutions

• Saving money is one of the top five New Year's resolutions and also in the top five for most commonly failed.
• More than half of people  fail their resolution before the end of January.
• Women make health-focused resolutions while men pledge to find a new job and lay off the alcohol.

It's pretty depressing so far hey.. looks like we don't have much chances looking at those stats above...

In 2019 on the top of the list was diet or eat healthier, exercise more, lose weight, save more and spend less, learn a new hobby, quit smoking, drink less, find another job and spend more time with friends and family.. Sounds familiar? 

Why is is so hard to keep the new year's resolutions then? I believe there is a number of things contributing to the end result.

First you have to realize that 1 January is only symbolic and won't make ANYTHING happen unless you are determined to achieve your goals.  It really does not matter if set your goals on 11 November or 1 January...
The goals itself must be SMART (Specific, measurable, achievable,  and timely). 

If you plan to put aside $500 a week, but after paying all your bills you have $300 left it is already a failure before you start... If you want to lose 10kg and planning to do within a month because you need be size 8 for your next holiday- well another failure ...Remember to plan it well and stick to it.

I don't usually make new year's resolutions,. I try to work on myself all year round and my decision to change something come when I need it,.. I feel I don't need to wait until the new year to start losing weight or save more money, or whatever else it may be...

Whatever your resolutions are I wish you win this race, just remember to plan well!

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. 

Iwona

As of now 6 January 2020  at 6am there is 136 fires, which continue to burn across NSW and more across the country.

It is so devastating and upsetting.. I don't even know what to say, and if anything I say would make any difference. However I feel it's important to talk about it..
People have lost everything in these horrendous fires - their homes, their loved ones and most importantly their souls.. It will take years to recover from this national tragedy. 

We are so lucky to have an amazing Fire Fighters who have been HEROES , LIFESAVERS and MENTORS.  Again, no words to describe these wonderful individuals, who put their life at risk to defend our communities. It is a modern war, war with the nature that we have lost... We must fight to the end and make changes in our environment as the climate change is the real thing, and we have a proof now.. The Government must act, and our Prime Minster better do something about it.

As much as the stories are disturbing, it is wonderful to see  people uniting and fighting together as ONE. There is so many up lifting stories about survival, the crisis not only brings us closer but opens up the areas in our hearts we never knew we had. 

If you have a home to go to, and your family is alive you are richer than you think, and you MUST give back.,,, to those who were less fortunate than us... I am the lucky one for now too. ..
Please open your hearts and wallets, donate- if you can't help with cash, volunteer whenever you can, I'm sure there is plenty of work to be help with. 

We are on the mission to re-build our beautiful country, that will never ever be the same. 

I believe only people's generosity can bring back the faith, and hope to those who lost it together with those burning fires.

Be safe this fire season

Iwona

We just said good buy to 2019 and welcomed 2020 with the hope that it will be better than the last one.. Let's have  a look at some interesting facts about 2019

 The Amazon Rainforest Fires
As of August 29, 2019, INPE reported more than 80,000 fires across all of Brazil, a 77% year-to-year increase for the same tracking period, with more than 40,000 in the Brazil's Legal Amazon (Amazônia Legal or BLA), which contains 60% of the Amazon.

The First Picture Of A Black Hole
On April 10, the Event Horizon Telescope captured the first photo ever of a black hole. The photo looks just as Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity would suggest, as space time is warped by the black hole's substantial mass.

The Notre Dame Cathedral Fire
On April 15, a fire started in the attic of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. The blaze quickly spread throughout the iconic structure. The fire was put out nine hours after it started, just after the cathedral's spire completely burned and collapsed. Authorities opened an investigation, as the cause of the fire is unknown.

New Child (Baby Yoda)
In November, The Mandalorian debuted on Disney+ and with it came the relentlessly adorable Child, whom fans dubbed "Baby Yoda" due to his resemblance to the titular green Jedi.  

'OK Boomer'
In response to the growing distaste between generations, Generation Z as well as some younger millennials adopted the phrase "OK Boomer" to fight back against claims that they "don't ever want to grow up."
"OK Boomer" became a media sensation, with countless kids and young adults creating art projects, merchandise, memes, and videos for what The New York Times described as a "rallying cry."

Star Wars: Eposide IX - The Rise of Skywalker
The final film in the latest Star Wars trilogy, The Rise of Skywalker, premiered December 20th. Rey practices her Jedi training as she faces the First Order as well as questions about her identity. 

The Big Bang Theory Series Finale
After 12 seasons the CBS sitcom came to an end in May.

Atomik Vodka From Chernobyl​
The first consumer product to come from the Chernobyl exclusion zone was announced by scientists in August 2019. The grain spirtit, called Atomic  is made from contaminated rye grain grown on the land. One of the researchers, professor Jim Smith of the UK’s University of Portsmouth, says the product is safe to drink given that vodka is distilled. Scientists want to learn how to use the abandoned land effectively, and the steady growth of rye grain proved there was at least one way to produce clean products from the radioactive zone. 

Gucio Shoes in Australia
From March 2019 a wonderful Gucio Baby Shoes are available in the southern Hemisphere. That should fact no 1 (only joking)

Let's see what 2020 is holding in its pocket! Can't wait ...

Welcome 2020 !

​Iwona

As we getting closer and closer to Christmas I just want to grab the opportunity to thank you for your support. Without you our little Gucio shoes business would not exist. 

Christmas is a season of enjoying the simple things that make life beautiful. May you have great memories that will touch your heart. I wish you a joy during this season and all through to the Next Year.

The true meaning of Christmas is giving and sharing the love and reaching out to those who have touched our lives. It is a time to count our blessing and be grateful for them.

It is my favorite time of the year. I just love spending this special time with my close ones.

Be merry  - I am sending you good wishes and love

Take care and looking forward to continue our Gucio journey next year.

Love

Iwona

Today will be a little bit about the best medicine, natural and totally free - a laughter.  I feel like it's often underestimated and even though we know laughing is good for us, we don't really take it seriously... 

So what is a laughter? Wikipedia describes it as "a physical reaction in humans consisting typically of rhythmical, often audible contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. It is a response to certain external or internal stimuli. Laughter can arise from such activities as being tickled, or from humorous stories or thoughts'.

On average, humans have this laughter reaction around 17 times a day, and as far as we know, we're one of the only species on the planet that laughs. Some primates do show signs of laughter when they're tickled, but scientists aren't quite sure if this is the same as human laughter.

The best part about all of this is that laughter is actually good for you. Researchers at the University of Maryland in the US have linked laughter to the healthy function of blood vessels - something that can lower your chance of a heart attack. And laughter also boosts heart rate and the production of certain antibodies, which strengthens our immune system. Laughter lower your blood pressure, reduces stress hormone levels, works your abs (I know it's great - when you are laughing, the muscles in your stomach expand and contract, similar to when you intentionally exercise your abs), trigger the release of endorphins and produces general sense of well-being.

Some studies have reported that laughing for at least fifteen minutes can add around 2 days to your overall lifespan. Live long and…laugh!  Not a coffee drinker? That’s okay! Laughing shortly after you wake up can have similar effects to drinking a cup of coffee. Next time you laugh right after getting up, notice how refreshing it feels.

We laugh due to a joke or an intentional action. More often, we laugh at chance happenings or things that were never intended to be funny in the first place.

Laughing can create an instant bond between individuals. When you laugh as a group or with someone else, we feel a natural connection to those people and it can alleviate some of the social stress that being around new people might create.

Laughter really is contagious. Ever wonder why television shows often play a 'laugh track' after a funny moment? Even we don't see where the source of laughter is, simply hearing laughter can be contagious.

So keep laughing, Laughter is an instant holiday. 

'I have not seen anyone dying of laughter, but I know millions who are dying because they are not laughing'                        Dr. Madan Kataria

Have a good laugh :)

Iwona 


​

 
This is one of my favorite sayings. It is with me every single day, and especially during the moments when I doubt myself or I think I can't do something...

You are looking at the person, who 15 years ago couldn't speak a word of English, who dreamed of having an office job, and dreamed of being able to have a fluent conversation in English...  At that time not only these sounded impossible, it actually was impossible...  Without speaking the language how could I work in an office or communicate in English? But impossible doesn't exist --- it was only the time I needed to change the impossible into possible!


I had to start from the bottom - first English classes, I started from the level 1, which was for people who pretty much know no English (All I could say back then was " Hello,and vegetables").   I had classes from 9am-12pm Monday to Friday, and then I would study at home for couple of hours - read magazines, listen to the radio , watch tv , and memorize new words. Six months later I thought I could speak English pretty good, as I could understand what my teacher was saying.... It never occurred to me that the teacher spoke with the turtle's speed and articulated every word so clearly...  

I only realized when I went out to the real world  I pretty much understood 10% or 20% ... Clearly that wasn't enough to get me my to the office job... So I applied for 12 months business course at TAFE. I was the only person in my class, barely speaking and writing. So English-Polish dictionary became my BFF... I put my heart, soul, and many many hours into this course. Writing an assignment was so hard, in term of using the correct Grammar, and of course the context.  12 months later I received my Certificate IV in Business with high marks - majority were distinctions. I couldn't be happier and prouder. It was a great achievement - so I thought, now I'm ready to go in the workforce...

Three months later, approx 100 resumes sent and not a single invitation to the interview.. I was so disappointed and had no plan what to do next.  Some people told me to look for a work in the factory, but  I still believed I could get an office job.... Silly? Maybe..  After four months one company invited me for an interview - it was a Receptionist, Student Support Staff role in a private hospitality College...  I don't even remember the interview very well as I was so nervous... BUT I GOT THE JOB!!!! OMG ... 1.5 years after I moved to Australia with no English I had my first job, and it was an office job!! I have a lot of stories from this job to share but that will be coming in my other posts... All I could tell you today is that I worked there for 3.5 years and I have learnt so much... 

I hope I convince you to take the next step and start working on your dreams.... whether it's a career or your personal goals... 

A famous Henry Ford quote, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right,” emphasizes how much attitude determines success or failure.

​
​Iwona