Here you’ll find stories of my for-purpose, bootstrapped SaaS founder,
travel & food-loving,
adversity-plentiful life.
‘Tis the good, the bad and not too much ugly.

Blog


Herby French Side Salad
Food Jessie Ballantyne Food Jessie Ballantyne

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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Cross Country
Health Jessie Ballantyne Health Jessie Ballantyne

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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Lisbon, Cascais & the Algarve - Portugal
Travel Jessie Ballantyne Travel Jessie Ballantyne

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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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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Birthday Eve - My youngest is turning five
Family Family

Birthday Eve - My youngest is turning five

My youngest child is now somehow turning five. He’ll be starting school next year and I’ll be heading to my last ever kinder Christmas concert. I’ve been feeling such a mix of emotions, all tinged with a big dose of motherly guilty. But most of all, a deep sense of gratitude and contentment that I have been able to raise three children.

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2020. Changing the fundamentals of the way we do life.
Health Health

2020. Changing the fundamentals of the way we do life.

This virus has made me sad to the core, because it’s changing some of the fundamentals of the way we do life. And while we’re locking down to try and prevent the spread of a deadly disease, lockdown is also increasing the frequency and impact of other social issues, like domestic violence, relationship breakdown and social isolation.

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Limbo Land - The longest 45 minutes of my son’s cardiology checkup day
Health Health

Limbo Land - The longest 45 minutes of my son’s cardiology checkup day

It’s checkup day. Tom’s has his blood pressure, sats, height and weight checked. Now we’re up to the echo. Otherwise known as limbo land. There is no other moment in life that makes me feel so much like I’m nowhere. We’re not living our normal every day life, we’re not in the clear, we’re not back on closer together checkups, and we’re not on a surgery waiting list.

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