Food, travel, health & business writer

+ Founder of The Grants Hub

Dream Big // Take Risks // Be Real // Give Generously

Food

Because I’ve always thought about food writing, but never done it.

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Herby French Side Salad
Herby French Side Salad

France. It’s front and centre of my mind today. For dinner, I’m aiming to feed my France nostalgia - those memories of family lunches while we were living in Nice.

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Grilled Chicken Tenderloins with a Zesty Asparagus, Dill & Rice Salad
Grilled Chicken Tenderloins with a Zesty Asparagus, Dill & Rice Salad

So many of my midweek family meals start with an ingredient that needs using up, or the main thing I feel like eating that day. I build a meal from there. This is how I ended up with Grilled Chicken Tenderloins, with a Zesty Dill, Asparagus, & Rice Salad.

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Health

Musings since my son with Congenital Heart Disease was born. If you know what it’s like to live life with a lump in your throat, you may relate.

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Cross Country
Cross Country

Right now, I’m sitting outside the school with a lump in my throat. My stomach is churning, wondering if today is the day he faints for the first time?

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Chronology Flipped
Chronology Flipped

How does a parent live, after watching their child die?

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The fragility of life
The fragility of life

I’ve been reminded of the fragility of life. In two so very different ways.

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Travel

The beginnings of my notes from 37 countries. Watch this space.

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The magic of exploring Nice, France
The magic of exploring Nice, France
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Lisbon, Cascais & the Algarve - Portugal
Lisbon, Cascais & the Algarve - Portugal

We all felt differently about this country of contrasts. While the Portuguese tarts are undeniably good, the sense of community is strong, and the coastline is mind-blowing, it’s a destination that would grab some and not others.

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Business

I'm the Founder of The Grants Hub (a for-purpose, bootstrapped SaaS), who loves growth metrics. Here are some things I’ve learned along the way.

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A business story of giving and growth
A business story of giving and growth

I’m sharing a business story of giving and growth. To prove that profit and purpose DO go together. To encourage more Australian business owners to intentionally add giving to their budget. To consider at least one of the innumerable social and environmental needs national or internationally and then work out what they’re going to give to that. To add giving as a budget line item with a dollar value next to it first, then budget from what’s left.

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We don’t want to be the pig in bacon & eggs. Why it’s important to avoid burnout as a business owner.
We don’t want to be the pig in bacon & eggs. Why it’s important to avoid burnout as a business owner.

The biggest personal challenge I’ve had with the sacrificial nature of being a business owner is learning not to keep burning out.

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The desperation for control in a rapidly changing, yet monotonous, world
The desperation for control in a rapidly changing, yet monotonous, world

Big political, social and environmental events are changing the very way we do life. Where does this leave us?

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“A fantastic story with very tangible and real takeaways. For me, what I have taken from your story is that it is not so much about the goal or an end state. It’s about the journey and how you take on the challenges, who you travel with, that you should reflect, and absolutely celebrate and be grateful for what you have created.”

Scott

“Wow - you write beautifully and what an inspirational story and THANK YOU for the insight. I started my business less than three months ago and it is both exciting and nerve shattering at the same time. I will be putting your ten points on our blackboard wall and remembering them along the way.”

Jonathan Norton,
Founder of OurFarmBox

Jessie in Venice, Italy

Jessie Ballantyne is a travel, health & business writer based on the Sunshine Coast, Australia.

She is also the founder of The Grants Hub.