10 Years In The Making With Eleanor Pendleton
Meet Eleanor Pendleton, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Gritty Pretty, Australia's premiere beauty website and digital magazine & one of Beck’s nearest & dearest & someone who has been with us on the AOL journey for many years.
For our 2023, 10 Years in the Making series, we sat down with Eleanor in her home office to chat about her first AOL diary, her own 10 year achievements, what organisation brings to her life & what she's looking forward to in the next chapter that is 2023.
Name: Eleanor Pendleton
Occupation: Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Gritty Pretty
Pronouns: she/her
Traditional Place Name: Darkinjung Country
How many years have you been using an An Organised Life diary? Do you remember your first one?
To tell the truth, I can’t quite remember as it's been so many years… As a friend of An Organised Life’s founder Beck Wadworth, I’ve been a supporter of her business since its inception. While I maintain a digital calendar, I also can’t give up having a physical diary as well – it helps me document my to-do list and compartmentalize my workload. There’s something about writing my to-do list at the end of the day so I start each morning fresh, raring and ready to go.
What 2023 diary style did you pick & why did you choose that style?
For 2023, I’m embracing a beige A5 Weekly Diary – I like having the week laid out in front of me. I also adore the personal touch of having my initials monogrammed in white on the soft vegan leather bound cover.
What is your favourite feature in your 2023 diary & how will it keep you organised?
I’m a natural planner and quite a reflective person so I love the FUTURE GOALS and and ACTION PLAN FOR GOALS pages at the beginning of the book. There’s nothing more satisfying than filling these out over the Christmas/New Year holiday break when I’m able to step away from my company, Gritty Pretty, and really contemplate.
What does organisation bring to your life?
For me, organisation is integral to my mental health. If I’m not organised in all aspects of my life – whether it be ensuring my son’s needs are met, managing my business and team, maintaining a tidy home, booking in pilates and yoga classes and ordering groceries in advance – then I really feel the impact on my mental state. They say “clean space = clean mind” and I really find that quote to ring true to my personality type.
Top organisation hack?
Outsource what you can. I am in a privileged position to be a working mother who can outsource tasks such as a fortnightly cleaner, grocery shopping deliveries and nappy subscriptions. I try to order whatever I can online to avoid spending my time going to the shops as that is time I’d rather spend with my family.
What is one personal, professional or financial goal you’ll be tracking in your 2023 diary?
Personally, my most exciting achievement in 2023 will no doubt be birthing my second child. I cannot wait to meet my new baby and am really excited to give birth for the second time and watch my son become a big brother to his new baby sibling.
Professionally, I’m taking maternity leave for 6 months – a huge achievement that anyone who runs their own business will understand. I’m excited for my incredible team at Gritty Pretty to step up while I’m offline and run the ship.
And financially, I always have goals (both individually and as a married couple). We’re working hard to further renovate our home for our family and explore other forms of investments to grow our financial wealth.
Reflect on the past 10 years, what's a goal you’re most proud to have achieved or greatest learning?
Having recently turned 34 earlier this month, I find birthdays are an opportunistic time to really reflect. I have always been of the opinion that every birthday, every lap around the sun is a gift and to grow old is an utter privilege. I am so grateful for my health and for my young family; and I’m extremely proud of the life my husband and I have built together over the past 14 years.
What will this next year, this next chapter bring to your life? What are you most looking forward to in 2023?
I’m excited for the first half to be my slow season – a time to just be with my family and new baby. I’m excited to travel internationally together as a foursome. And, in the second half of next year, I’m really excited to be launching a new business that I’ve been working on for the past two years. After everything the past three years of the pandemic has brought us, I feel immense gratitude for the life I have – simple things like going to a restaurant, being able to board a flight, having family and friends visit us at our home… they’re all privileges we all experienced halt overnight and so what excites me the most about 2023 is experiencing more present connections with others.