Donna Duggan
Book reviews
Looking for a good read? Here are the books our managing editor Donna is reading at the moment.
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Deadlines
As you flick through our wonderful magazine spare a thought for the hard work that goes into it.
It’s deadline week in the MiNDFOOD office which means the office is quiet except for some frantic typing. Caffeine is running through our veins as we compile another bumper issue. Michael McHugh has ...
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Good content is hard to find
Do you have a story idea for MiNDFOOD? Donna Duggan explains how to make your content stand out.
Good content is hard to find. How often do you find yourself flipping through the newspaper, jumping from one television show to the next or flicking through magazines at a rapid speed?  With...
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The exquisite things in life
A weekend spent on Hamilton Island leaves Donna wondering how to redefine the word "luxury."
Having just spent the most spectacular weekend at the Great Barrier Feast at Qualia on Hamilton Island I have a new appreciation for the exquisite things life has to offer.  Staying at qualia made...
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Addicted to journalism
Attending events throughout the day can lead to late nights working on the magazine and website.
The MiNDFOOD editorial team are invited to many events. And as the end of year draws near, the frequency of events increases exponentially.  This week began with a media day with Princess Mary...
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Choose the next MiNDFOOD cover star
George Clooney or Tilda Swinton, Emma Watson or Rachel Weisz. You get to choose the next cover star.
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Cover story
When it comes to creating a successful magazine, the cover can be the most important element.
The cover story is one of the most important elements of the magazine. Not only does an appealing cover encourage you to pick up the mag, it also represents the vision and voice of the brand. A...
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Not just a blank canvas
Inspired by the Saatchi Gallery in Adelaide, contemporary art no longer sits uncomfortably with me.
The idea of contemporary art sits uncomfortably with many people. It can often conjure images of blank canvases and plastic sculptures of severed heads with people remarking 'I could do that' or 'I...
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A taste for Queenstown
I've not visited the city, but if the 'taste of Queenstown' is anything to go by, I'm moving there.
Most days someone from the editorial team will go to some type of event. Beauty launches occur almost daily, and to stand out from the crowd they range from being stylish and functional (“here’s our ...
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Approaching deadline
As we approach our biggest deadline yet, I'm starting to wonder if our talented staff ever go home.
I'm a great fan of columnist Angela Mollard ( thepunch.com.au ) who began her career at the New Zealand Herald before moving on to London then Sydney. She mostly writes on the ups, downs and...
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A touch of whimsy goes a long way
Donna spends a memorable evening at the STC and remembers why theatre is good for the soul.
Earlier in the week I met with Tim McKeough, the Media Relations Manager at the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) to discuss their program for the rest of the year.  They have some very exciting...
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Hairdressers know how to party
What better way to spend a wet and stormy Monday, than at the Schwarzkopf Hair Expo awards?
This week I attended my first ever Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Awards. It was held on a wet and stormy Monday night on the June long weekend so I did find it a little challenging to get out of my...
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Back for good
Deputy Editor, Donna Duggan, returns to MiNDFOOD following a two year break.
I have just returned to MiNDFOOD after a two-year hiatus (I had another bub and did some writing for a national newspaper). I love being back as it’s such an exhilarating place to work. It's...
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Books for Cooks
Michael McHugh discovers a London book store dedicated to cookbooks.
I have wanted to go to Books for Cooks in Notting Hill for a long time. When I called in during a recent trip to London it was too early for lunch, a shame because they are serving lentil and spinach...
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Curling sticks at the ready
Michael McHugh heads into the cold of Central Otago to visit the National Bonspiel.
There’s no doubt Central Otago in the dead of winter is cold, real cold. Driving through the Maniototo on the way to the National Bonspiel (a curling tournament for the uninitiated) it felt as though...
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Toy Story: The nightmare continues
Stepping into a toy store in Tokyo (or 'toy park' if you're a local) is on par with visiting a zoo.
I have been to a place I never want to return to. A place that made my head ache. It was bright, shiny and loud. I have woken up thinking about it, and even dreamed about it. I visited a Japanese toy...
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A whale of an issue
I find myself bombarded with whaling news during my visit to beautiful Tokyo.
As I sit in a Tokyo restaurant having breakfast, I read in the morning paper that Japan’s Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Canberra on Saturday. ‘Okada,...
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Some Lady
Ladyhawke is getting as much press for her Kiwi background as she is for her music.
I attended the New Zealand Music Awards recently. Ladyhawke (AKA Pip Brown) was undoubtedly the star of the night, scooping the pool and winning six awards. By the fourth or fifth award she had...
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Musical journey
What do you get when you mix a hire car with a compilation CD? A whole lotta reminiscing.
I recently hired a car and the person who had rented it before me had left a compilation CD in the player. As I flicked through the musical journal they had created, the songs brought back a lot of...
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Hello caller, is anybody there?
Social networking and texting may have their advantages, but boy can they be time wasters.
I was sent a text this week asking why I had exited the room leaving an ashtray full of cigarette butts. I texted back to say they had the wrong person, as the only room I’d just left was the kitchen...
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