Latest news with #ElizaReid
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
I'm a mega Kmart Australia fan - here are five items I recommend to everyone
A self-professed Kmart Australia mega fan has shared her pick of the top bargain items to organise your bathroom - and all of them clock in at under $20. Victorian woman Eliza Reid, who regularly shares shopping finds to her @bargain_homewares page recently toured the bathroom organisation section of her local Kmart store to highlight her favourite buys. In her TikTok video, which has garnered over 55,000 views, the first item that Eliza spotlighted is a set of in-shower bottles that are reminiscent of a luxe hotel wash station. Currently priced at $6, reduced from its original price of $9, Eliza explains in the video that Kmart's Set of 3 Bottles with Hangers are ideal to 'decant your shampoo, conditioner and body wash and display them nicely'. The set of three refillable bottles comes with adhesive hangers so that they can be easily hung onto the shower wall. With their sleek exterior design, these display bottles not only look great but are ideal for showers where shelf space is at a minimum. Eliza's next pick to up your bathroom organisation game is a Silicone 3 Section Holder, priced at $5.50. Again, this is perfect solution for bathrooms where shelf space is limited because it offers an alternative tidy hanging spot to store small essential items, like make-up, cosmetic brushes, toothbrushes, razors and nail care accessories. Priced at $5.50, the Kmart Silicone 3 Section Holder offers a vertical storage solution that is also easy to affix to common bathroom surfaces without the need for an adhesive Eliza noted that there are currently a range of different silicone holders at Kmart to choose from. The added beauty of these silicone holders is they don't require any adhesive to stick on, with the online product description explaining that the silicone can simply affix to clean surfaces such as 'ceramic tile, glass, marble or metal'. It also means the organiser is easily removable (without leaving any residue) and can be taken down to be cleaned or repositioned elsewhere. Another silicone bathroom organisation item that caught the Melbourne shopper's eye was the Hot Tool Silicone Tray - previously $15 but has now been reduced down to $12. Describing it as one of her 'favourite products', Eliza explained: 'It's made of silicone, so you can put your hair straightener away while it's still hot'. For those who regularly use styling tools like straightening irons and curling wands, this heat-proof silicone tray provides a safe place for the hot tool to be laid down, without the worry of inadvertently burning a bathroom vanity top or drawer. As well as being practical, the tray also provides a neat storage space for heat stylers. For those who are looking to jazz up their wash room aesthetic, the TikTok creator recommended checking out Kmart's matching range of 'pastel bathroom accessories'. 'You have the choice of a tray, a toothbrush holder, and the matching hand soap pump.' According to the Kmart website, the matching Flower Soap Dispenser, Flower Tray and Flower Dual Tumbler are all priced at $5 each and currently come in either lilac or blue. The final Kmart buy on Eliza's radar was an ingenious LED Storage Mirror, which has been knocked down from $29 to $20. 'If you need more storage, then this LED mirror might be suitable for you. You could store your skincare or makeup inside it,' Eliza suggested in her TikTok video. The bargain hunter added that the freestanding and portable mirror could even be used beyond the bathroom to do your make-up 'on the go'. The egg-shaped dome mirror features an oval mirror surface with a rechargeable LED light framing the edge, so that make-up can be applied in ideal lighting. The LED Storage Mirror can also be swung up and open to reveal a hidden storage space and small drawer inside the unit - making it an ideal spot to store make-up when the mirror isn't in use. Eliza's video was awash with comments thanking her for the bathroom organisation recommendations. 'This is so helpful honey,' replied one person. 'I'm definitely getting them' confirmed another.
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How Iceland's Former First Lady Eliza Reid Champions Women Voices
Eliza Jean Reid speaks onstage during the Clinton Global Initiative September 2023 Meeting at New ... More York Hilton Midtown on September 18, 2023 in New York City. (Photo byfor Clinton Global Initiative) Gabriele Hartshorne-Mehl contributed to this story. 'Að ganga með bók í maganum,' – 'to walk with a book in your belly' – is a favorite expression among Icelanders. It suggests that everyone carries a story inside them, waiting to be told. Former First Lady and bestselling author Eliza Reid has taken this phrase to heart. For her, storytelling is both personal and political. Throughout her career, both as a skilled writer and wielder of soft power politics, Reid has adopted this philosophy. Whether addressing international audiences, elevating women's voices, or crafting fictional murder mysteries, she uses narrative not only to express herself but also to normalize ideas which might challenge the status quo. Originally from Canada, Reid was raised on her parents' hobby farm just outside of Ottawa. However, she is fluent in Icelandic and has immersed herself in the country's culture since moving there with her husband, former President Guðni Jóhannesson, in 2003. The couple met at Oxford when she won a date with him in a raffle. With characteristic wit and candour, Reid admits she contributed to her luck by adding her name to the cup several times: 'It was giving fate a little bit of a push. And who knew the long-term repercussions of that one moment of spontaneity!' From Ottawa to Iceland's Presidential Residence The couple lived in England for five years, completing their postgraduate studies – Reid in Modern History, and Jóhannesson in Icelandic political history. In 2003, they moved to Iceland, and Reid began the process of immersing herself into Icelandic culture: mastering the complex language structures, learning the stories of the people, and engaging with and honouring local traditions. These experiences would later form the foundation of her bestselling book, Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland's Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World, which explores how Iceland's progress on gender equality is rooted in cultural and historical influences. Reid's public profile changed dramatically when her husband was elected President of Iceland following a political scandal tied to the Panama Papers in 2016. The country greatly appreciated Jóhannesson's grasp of the context and his insightful and entertaining commentary. He ended up winning the election on a platform defined by integrity, transparency, and impartiality – a fresh alternative to Iceland's political elite. The Storytelling Instinct There is no official role for the spouse of the President in Iceland. However, despite any formal definition, the inherent nature of the position carries some gendered social expectations. 'It is almost an anti-feminist role in a sense, even though we have some men serving as spouses of heads of state,' she says, because it traditionally assumes a passive, supportive figure. Rather than accept that framework, Reid redefined it. It was an opportunity to use her unique voice, stand up for what she believed in, and 'shift the expectations that first ladies are some sort of well-dressed muse for their husband's genius.' Early on, Reid learned that the media paid more attention to what she wore than to the attire of her husband. Rather than conforming to the one-dimensional decorative aspects associated with First Ladies, she decided to use her wardrobe as a tool for cultural and political advocacy. Dressing for Advocacy She strategically selected outfits that spotlight local designers and support values she believed in, such as sustainability. 'I bought something at the Red Cross charity shop once. I wore it to an Icelandic awards show, and it ended up being on the BBC that the First Lady had worn a $15 used jacket,' says Reid. She also wore secondhand clothing during her husband's re-election and several other high-profile events to continue to challenge the expectations set for her on what she might wear. 'It's supporting a good cause. So I did that quite often for bigger events,' she recalls. Reid proudly identifies as a feminist, using her platform to normalize the term in public discourse and deter misconceptions surrounding gender equality. The Language of Power 'Women tend to be socialized not to take up space,' she says. 'We are taught that we are physically too big for everything, we are too loud, too bossy, too ambitious.' Women also minimize themselves through language – 'I just wanted to say, I only wanted to contribute this, sorry to interrupt you,' she mimics. These phrases diminish the power of the contributor's initial statement. As an author, Reid is mindful of the harm these rhetorical and linguistic choices cause, weakening the message's delivery and reflecting deeper conditions around who feels most entitled to speak. She also understands the value and importance of using one's unique voice. 'It is very empowering to point out to people that you don't have to have climbed Everest or founded a company or have been the first to do something to be able to tell your story and to use details from your life to inspire other people,' Reid says. 'We are all role models, we all have an influence, and we all have something important to say,' she continues. From Nonfiction to Nordic Noir Reid's writing reflects this ethos. Her latest project, a murder mystery novel titled Death on the Island, blends her love of British-style crime fiction with her deep appreciation for Icelandic culture. In many ways, the pivot to fiction-writing is another extension of her enduring guiding principle: telling stories which are grounded and expansive, personal and political. The Importance of Owning Your Voice Whether through fashion, fiction, or feminist advocacy, Reid remains committed to reshaping narratives — her own and others'. She reminds us that we all carry a story inside us. The only question is whether we choose to tell it.
Straits Times
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Book review: Former Iceland first lady Eliza Reid pens Christie-inspired Death Of A Diplomat
Death Of A Diplomat is the fiction debut of the former first lady of Iceland Eliza Reid. PHOTOS: ELIZAREID, SPHERE
CBC
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Former First Lady of Iceland Eliza Reid shares her life in books
Social Sharing Eliza Reid's journey began on a hobby farm in the Ottawa Valley, then after she fell in love, moved to Iceland where she started a family. But when her husband was voted president there, she suddenly became the First Lady of Iceland. This spring, she began yet another adventure with her debut murder mystery called Death on the Island. "I came from a journalism background and so writing nonfiction for my first full length book sort of was kind of a logical next step," she said. "And then I thought, I wonder if it's harder or easier to make the story and the people up. As it turns out, it's harder in my opinion. But I did want another challenge and I've always loved murder mysteries, sort of Golden Age style murder mysteries, and I thought I would just give it a shot." The novel is set in Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands) during a diplomatic dinner party. When the deputy ambassador of Canada dies suddenly, her boss, the Canadian ambassador, is quickly thrown under suspicion, and his wife must figure out everyone's secrets to clear his name and save her crumbling marriage. Eliza came from a reading family — her father was an English professor and her brother is award-winning author Iain Reid — so books have always been a part of her life. She joined The Next Chapter host Antonio Michael Downing to talk about some of the books that have shaped and guided her. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie Reid's first pick is a literary classic by an author whose style she says had a huge impact on her as a reader and on her latest book. The book is a murder mystery set on a train where someone is stabbed overnight. Reid says:"It's an old classic murder mystery and I'm sure that it's the book that I've read the most. I've probably read it 50 times. And I think I first read it when I was 8 years old. Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl Her second pick is a memoir by celebrated chef and former New York Times food writer Ruth Reichl. The book chronicles her time spent as a New York Times food critic. "I like the memoir genre and I read a lot of different memoirs and memoirs of people — not necessarily famous people, but people who have had something interesting happen to them or have led an interesting life in some way," she said. Reid says:"I love that there's recipes in it, and it's actually probably one of the books that I give away as a gift most often. It's just fun, it's smart, it's a bit of escapism. I like it for lots of different reasons." Bloodhoof by Gerður Kristný Reid's next pick is one from her adopted Icelandic home. It's a minimalist retelling of an ancient Icelandic story of gods and giants taken from the Poetic Edda. "I've made Iceland my home for the past more than two decades. And Iceland has this long and rich literary heritage. Iceland's, the land of the sagas — it's a really literary focused society." Reid says:"I chose this one because I don't read a lot of poetry, to be honest. But I see the value in it, but I like the sort of feminist underpinnings of this and the way that it represents a different perspective on telling an older story." Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga In Seven Fallen Feathers, investigative journalist Tanya Talaga travels to Thunder Bay, Ont., to investigate the deaths of seven Indigenous teenagers: Jordan Wabasse, Kyle Morrisseau, Curran Strang, Robyn Harper, Paul Panacheese, Reggie Bushie and Jethro Anderson. Talaga looks at how their lives and untimely deaths can teach us about the injustice faced by Indigenous communities on a daily basis. Seven Fallen Feathers won the 2018 RBC Taylor Prize for nonfiction. Reid says:"I think when you narrow these huge problems down to these sort of specific stories, it really it lingers with you — both the prejudice that people had to tackle, the institutional issues that exist and really just the fact that this is something that we need to continue to talk about and, and face head on in Canada." Patriot: A Memoir by Alexei Navalny Patriot is the memoir by Alexei Navalny, the Russian dissident who had been barred from running for president and died in prison just over a year ago. Much of it was written while Navalny was imprisoned and he was able to smuggle the documents out to his collaborators. Reid says: "I put this on my list for two reasons. One, I think to illustrate that I think it's important for us to stay up to date on global current affairs, to stay up to date on what is happening. But secondly, because I listened to the audio version of this memoir and the first adjective I can think of to describe it, surprisingly, perhaps, was uplifting. As he writes, there are such wonderful moments where he never seems to doubt why he's doing this."
CBC
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Linwood Barclay, Uzma Jalaluddin and Eliza Reid among authors at the Motive Crime & Mystery Festival
Social Sharing Linwood Barclay, Uzma Jalaluddin and Eliza Reid are among the authors at this year's Motive Crime & Mystery Festival. Presented by the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA), Motive is a festival focused on crime and mystery literature; this year's event takes place June 27-29, 2025 at the University of Toronto. Canada Reads 2025 contestant and bestselling author Linwood Barclay will be there to discuss his most recent novel, Whistle, which dips into the horror genre as a train set comes to life with sinister motives. In Whistle, Annie moves to a charming town in upstate New York with her young son. She's reeling from the sudden death of her husband in an accident and the fact that one of the children's books she authored and illustrated ignited a major scandal. Linwood Barclay's latest novel, Whistle, is a spooky tale about an evil toy train set — read an excerpt now When her son, Charlie, finds an old train set in a locked shed on their property, he's thrilled, but there's something eerie about the toy. As weird things start happening in the neighbourhood, Annie can't help but feel that she's walked out of one nightmare and right into another. Barclay has written over 20 books, including thrillers I Will Ruin You, Find You First, Broken Promise and Elevator Pitch and the middle-grade novels Escape and Chase. Many of Barclay's books have been optioned for film and television, and he wrote the screenplay for the movie Never Saw It Coming, adapted from his novel of the same name. His books The Accident and No Time for Goodbye were made into a television series in France. Barclay lives near Toronto. He championed the memoir Jennie's Boy by Wayne Johnston on Canada Reads 2025. Linwood Barclay and Wayne Johnston dish on Canada Reads strategy — and the magic of writing a life's story Jalaluddin will also be at the festival. A romance writer making her debut when it comes to cozy mystery, she'll be discussing her latest book, Detective Aunty. In Detective Aunty, when recently widowed Kausar Khan hears that her daughter has been accused of murdering the landlord of her clothing boutique, nothing can hold her back to help figure out who is the true culprit. But even Kausar is unprepared for the secrets, lies and betrayals that she'll uncover along the way. Uzma Jalaluddin explains how writing about love is similar to writing about murder Jalaluddin is a teacher, parenting columnist and author based in Ontario. Her previous works include the novels Ayesha At Last, Hana Khan Carries On, Much Ado About Nada and Three Holidays and a Wedding. Reid will be attending Motive to discuss her debut novel Death on the Island, a mystery set in Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands) during a diplomatic dinner party. When the deputy ambassador of Canada dies suddenly, her boss, the Canadian ambassador, is quickly thrown under suspicion, and his wife must figure out everyone's secrets to clear his name and save her crumbling marriage. Reid is the writer of Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland's Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World. Born in Canada but currently living in Iceland, Reid served the unofficial role of First Lady while her husband was President of Iceland from 2016-2024. You can see the full program on the Motive Crime & Mystery Festival website.
