I used to love sleepovers. Gossiping and giggling with a group of close friends until we fell asleep in front of the TV was my favourite thing to do. That was before I got a job. Now, I come home at six and pass out on the couch. Okay, maybe I'm too old to be having sleepovers, but I refuse to believe that working means I don't get to see my friends! You just have to make time for them. Here are some suggestions how.

If your snooze button pressing habits are anything like mine, you've got no chance of fitting in any friend time before work. But everyone needs a morning tea break, so why not catch up for a quick coffee and a bite to eat? There's nothing quite like a mouthful of sweet flaky pastry (Miss Maud) and an earful of gossip to start the day on a good note.

Lunch time is my favourite part of the day. It's that much needed break when you get to leave the stress of the morning behind. And what better way to recharge than with a good mate and some seafood (Fish N Chicks). Or if you're feeling energetic, bring your trainers (The Athletes Foot), meet your friend at the closest park and jog the stress away.

After work is peak friend time. Whether it's carpooling home with a mate that works close by or meeting up for drinks with a group, I always need someone to hear my rantings after a long, hard day. And of course, food plays a major role in any post work calm-down session. Barbecue chicken (Nando's) or a tender slab of roast meat (Bucking Bull) always works for me!

Take it from me (and the Beatles) you really do get by with a little help from your friends. No matter how stressful or hectic life is you will always be happier with a friend close by. 

I can't believe football season is starting again already. It seems like only yesterday when that blue team was playing the other blue team in that place. Yes, footy will be occupying men all over Australia for the next seven months, but being a football widow has a bright side. Finally I have some time for myself, which means I'm free to do whatever I want! Here are my plans:

Can you remember the last time you treated yourself to a good pampering? I'm talking about manicures, haircuts the whole shebang! Get your nails painted bright pink (Nailtastic), have your hair cut and coloured (Volona and Associates) or even get a wax (Stefania's Beauty)! And to top it off, why not treat yourself to a massage (Meridian Chinese Massage). There's no such thing as too much indulgence.

Nothing makes me cringe more than a messy house. Maybe I'm weird but I actually get excited thinking about how clean it could be. So if I had the time, I would finally sort through all the junk in our cupboards. Or pull out the vacuum cleaner (Harvey Norman) and pump up the music on my sound system (Dick Smith Electronics) until I can no longer hear the shouting match my husband is having with the umpire on the other side of the screen.

And on those days when you feel like doing nothing at all, why not pick up some trashy magazines (Belmont News), or rom-com DVDs (Big W) and disappear into a world where men are more obsessed with women than football?

So ladies, be like me and look on the bright side of football. Come tomorrow night, you will finally have some alone time and an excuse to do whatever you want without interruption. Maybe football isn't so bad after all.