The Smartest Woman Alive

Have you ever heard someone say “Be careful, you’ll become a crazy old cat lady” as if being an independent boss bitch with pet cats is something to look down on? Why is that? Why do cats, especially when linked to a single woman, have this negative connotation? I mean yeah, if you die a cat will likely eat you if no one finds you for a few days, but a dog might eat your face off, and a cute little hamster might build a nest from your skin. Yep. Its true, just ask real live Bones aka forensic anthropologist Carolyn Rando. So, what’s with all the pussy cat prejudice? Well, it wasn’t always so. Cats have been around us humans for thousands of years, Ancient Egyptians are well known for their feline affinity, Bastet (or Bast) was the goddess of protection, fertility, pleasure and the bringer of good health. In Norse Mythology, one of the most renowned goddesses Freyja rode a chariot drawn by cats, and she was the goddess of love, fertility, battle and death. Cats were depicted in reli...

What Did I Decide On: Auto delivery subscriptions from Amazon.  Why it is Awesome:  You can choose the frequency of deliveries, and subscribing saves you 10% each order. Multiple orders can be shipped together, all with free delivery with Amazon Prime. All your subscriptions can be edited at any time, frequency or number can be changed, the order can be suspended or even cancelled with no issues. Why You Might Think Twice:  Money is automatically debited prior to each order, so you need to ensure that there are funds in the right place, and that your payment method is up to date. There are also limited brand options, so you might not be able to get you preferred things. Out of stock orders are substituted, and they may not be acceptable in some circumstances. This has not happened to me though, all substitutions have been adequate.  The Story Behind the Decision: It all started with the Cat. The dam Cat. Now, I love my little fur baby to pieces, but as all cat owners...

A Long Time Ago, In a Galaxy Far Far Away. I study Ancient History. When I tell people, they all usually have the same general response. It is an irrelevant, albeit interesting, field of study, and they are usually unsure as to why I am even undertaking to learn about such irrelevant things.  So why do I, and why should we all, care about things that happened so long ago, in what seems like a different world? The answer, first and foremost, is simple. The study of Ancient History, or any other period of history, is the study of humanity and human behaviour.  Why do we do what we do?  The fact is, that the trials, tribulations, morals and priorities of those in the past are not that dissimilar than those that we have today, and developments in the humanities are providing us with new ways of looking at the past, and bringing these similarities to light. Concatenation of scientific and humanitarian disciplines is providing a more wholistic view of ancient empires, civilisat...

Have you ever felt that your period product, pads or tampons, were not cutting it? Don't worry, it's not you, it's them.  Every menstruating person on earth knows the trials and tribulations of finding and using period products. Out of everything we go through each month, you would think period products would be the lest complicated. Yes, they are uncomfortable,. Yes they will stick to the wrong things, or nothing at all. Yes, its really hard to figure out what you need for what flow. But, they are made for this right? Turns out, they haven't been. Made for, but not tested with. Turns out, period products are not designed, or tested using actual blood. Yes, you read that right. A recent study conducted by the Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland is the first to actually measure period products with actual blood. And when I say recent, I mean RECENT. It was August 2023.  Lets back up a bit.... Whilst the use of pads and tampons can be ...

What Did I Decide On: Goodnotes Digital Stationery  and planner by Happy Downloads Why it is Awesome:  There are no limitations on options. Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual planners. Wide range of notebook and paper templates. Intelligent search with results form both text and handwriting. Convert handwriting to text functions. Add stickers, photos, screenshots, and internal and external hyperlinking. Why You Might Think Twice:  I do miss the feel of pen on paper, even with the addition of a paper feel screen protector. It is also a little more difficult to cross reference, I have always ben big on notes on notes, but that is really only until you realise all the tricky IT shortcuts you can use.  The Story Behind the Decision: I have always loved notebooks and diaries and planners. It does not shame me to say that I have been known at MULTIPLE places of work for my stationery. It took years of using different planners and notebooks, but I did finally find...

What Did I Decide On:  Bonds Bloody Comfy Period Undies   Why They Are Awesome:  I love Bonds underwear. Actually, I love Bonds everything, and with good reason. These undies are everything Bonds is known for, comfortable, breathable, funky patterns and colours, with the added benefit of fantastic absorption. They are available in Light, Medium and Heavy flow options, and heaps of styles, from bikini to boyleg. Bloody Comfy Period Full Brief Moderate Why You Might Think Twice:  As with most period things, the padding is noticeable, but less so than a pad, and you get used to it very quickly. Personally I have had some issues with some of my pairs stitching coming apart, but it has only been in the boyfit ones. Also, its not been enough to put me off from buying more!  You also do have to hand wash them, which can seem a bit weird at first, but easy and after a while you get into a routine/habit. The Story Behind the Decision: Periods suck. No need to beat around...

What Did I Decide On:  Arctic Fox Hair Color  * *yes, I know it is spelt wrong, it annoys me, but the US will just do everything differently lol.  Why it is Awesome: This hair colour is nothing short of amazing, cruelty free, leaves your hair super soft and smelling like some type of bubble gum, it comes in a range of fantastic colours and its demi-permanent, meaning it does wash out.  Why You Might Think Twice: The colours are pretty intense, especially on lighter hair, and while it does wash out, it can take a little while. Shipping from the US, while incredibly quick (looking at you AusPost) can be expensive, so if you are to buy them, best to stock up, as shipping does not increase dramatically with multiple products.  The Story Behind the Decision: We moved to Brisbane in the start of 2020, and two weeks later that pesky pandemic thing hit. Amongst all the other things we now had to learn to deal with moving to a brand new city, we had to deal with business...

I'm Leea.  41 year old mother to two, wife to one, and I love doing research and learning new things.  I have also been around since the internet was invented, so was able in my younger days to snag the amazing thesmartestwomanalive  email address. I love all things tech, and have loved watching as new and exciting things come out each year. Having the world at your fingertips was not something I grew up with (I am a Xennial after all) and the awesomeness of that wealth of information has never been lost to me.  Having the world at your fingertips, whilst amazing, can also be totally overwhelming.  Our daily lives are overloaded with millions of tiny decisions each day, our individual executive function is at capacity, so sometimes you need someone to do those hard yards for you. Someone to read the plethora of reviews, to troll through the seemingly endless options available... and that's just what I have done. I have never bought anything, gone anywhere, or ev...