red hot

I had to feature a pair of Alexander McQueen shoes this week to honour the talent of the man. I adore how the zipper opens to feature a peep toe - and look at the shape of that heel - perfection. The man had a singular eye for unique design and his legacy shall live on in his utterly fabulous creations.

oh coco

Isn't this image totally and utterly parfait? J'adore Audrey Tatou and think she made the ideal Gabrielle Chanel.

my funny valentine

It's Valentines Day, so share the love around. Give a sweet smile, a loving hug, do a good deed and treat yourself nice. Love is all we need x

happy weekend

Happy Saturday! We're off to the nursery soon. I've found that they sell a variety of Hydrangea that blooms all-year-long. It's called Endless Summer and comes in both the traditional mophead and lace cap forms. I'm thinking that the blue will look prettiest against the grey and violet of our house - but we can always change it to pink later if we feel the need.

We're also buying some French lavender to hedge around the garden to the left of our front stairs. We've got a massive murraya in there and my husband's extended the garden so we can fit lavender across the front. Behind it I'm thinking of tall annuals such as foxgloves, cosmos or delphiniums... We'll see what's on offer. It'd be nice to have something pretty to look at while you're walking up the stairs.

What are you up to today? Oh, while I've got you - send out some best wishes to Beth at BabyMac who's having a birthday baking cake-off against her husband - may the best woman win!

l'heure cocktail

The Cointreau Teese

1 ½ oz. Cointreau
¾ oz. apple juice
½ oz. Monin violet syrup
½ oz. fresh lemon juice

words, don't come easy

This image of the shopfront of Repetto in Paris has a tenuous link to the following post - but it's so pretty! I'll be stopping by that store to buy a keepsake for my pretty ballerina when we're in Paris next year... {and now for the segue...} where I shall be speaking fluently thanks to my Alliance Francais lessons.

Ha!

Last night was my second lesson and while I'm still bamboozled by how much is crammed into two hours, I'm starting to gain more of an understanding of the French language. In the past I've tried to learn French for travellers - through books, tapes and most recently, my iPod. But the problem here is that French for Travellers requires rote learning - not one of my special skills. However, with the Alliance Francais I'm learning to speak French - not translate English words and phrases to French - huge difference!

The beginner's course will run for a year, over four terms, and then next year it's onto continuing beginners, then intermediate, then advanced. Long-term commitment huh. But I'm excited by the challenge. I'm starting to understand the vowel sound and where they appear. I now understand how to break up words into syllables and think I've already grasped a few of the basics. Show me a french word now and I'll have a pretty good shot at pronouncing it.

Last night the teacher even directed two "Parfait" in my direction at my pronunciation {perfect, obviously being the highest level of praise!} but I also got a few "non, non, NON!" and corrections with a wry chuckle and a shake of the head. So far my brain's remembering around 80 per cent of the rules - which is an astonishing achievement for someone who hasn't studied for such a long time. But our teacher's aiming for 100 per cent - so I'll do my best.

We have homework every day which I'm devouring like the girly swat I am. And I'm listening to French music such as the parfait Emilie Simon. Better watch out, I'll be checking out the French News before long...

vale

Mr Alexander McQueen, may you rest in peace.

one thousand one hundred and eleven

I am v excited as this is my 1111th post. How cool is that number? So to celebrate, here are some glorious David Austin roses. If you love roses, please, please, please buy yourself a David Austin for your garden. They're gorgeous, they're usually beautifully scented and the range is incredible.

We've got quite a few in our garden: the rich, yellow Graham Thomas {with the lavender border in front}, a delicate peachy pink Heritage {two of those flank our front gate}, rich red Tess of the D'Urbervilles and the gloriously blowsy pink Gertrude Jeckyl.

These are balanced with a very old rose - Duchess de Brabant - the most delicate pink blooms you'll ever see and a bush that never needs trimming {and even thought I'm two blocks from the beach it's never seen a touch of black spot!}. We've only got one traditional hybrid tea - the stunning red Mr Lincoln - so deep that its blossoms almost appear black and with a perfume so heady it makes you swoon as you brush by.

Oh, and I should also be celebrating my blogiversary - which fell on Monday - and I forgot. Damn, such a slack blogger... Anyway, happy blogiversary to me! Two years huh? That's gone quickly...

not want, NEED

This is not my bathroom, but can anyone give me a damned fine reason as to why it shouldn't be?

prom pretties

Ahhh, who doesn't love a fluffy frock? These pretties are going to help me get through the day - hopefully. My gal had her netball grading day yesterday and I foolishly put my hand up to umpire the games while they were grading. An hour and a half later I finally had a chance to rest. Being the sole umpire is tough, there's a lot of running up and down the court and behind the goals. But doing so when you're wearing a skirt and an old pair of havaianas is torture. Today I'm hobbling around like a 90-year-old. Remind me to sit on my hand the next time they call for volunteers...

excitement's building

Of course I'll use any excuse to post a pic of this gorgeous woman, but guess what I just found out? Apparently Christian Siriano is working on costume design on Eloise in Paris. I KNOW!

I loved him soooooooo much in Project Runway, loved what he did with this magnificent frock for Christina - and can't wait to see his creations for this film.

By the way, when I told my daughter the news about the film there was squeeling, little claps, a dance of joy and some tears. That's my girl...

j'adore

This afternoon I shall be making my child's day by informing her that a filmic version of Eloise in Paris is to be released this year. Squeeeeeee. We love the stories of Eloise - a girl who lives in the New York Plaza with her Nahnee and pets Weenee and Skiperdee. Her favourite food is Filet Mignon and her clothing Dior and she's always utterly fabulous. Two years ago for bookweek my gal donned a pressed white blouse, pinafore, scruffled her hair and slipped on long socks and mary janes in homage to this sweet gal...

Now, the thing that's got me confused is that the eternally glamorous Uma Thurman is playing Nahnee {a role previously assumed by the more squishy Julie Andrews...}. Now, Uma as the ever-absent, always-uber-chic Mother, that I get - but the Nanny? We'll see. C'mon, the film's set in Paris what's not to love?

belle fleurs

We have a wee space to fill in our garden at the moment and I'm leading the call for a hydrangea. These extravagant blooms look fabulous when they're out, adorable when they fade and also offer rich, verdant foliage - that ticks enough boxes for me! And don't these ones look divine spilling over and through the fence? Perfection.

minimalist? moi?

No matter how much I declutter, tidy, clean and purge I'll never be a minimalist. I need something to show a room's lived-in. This room here is pretty, but it makes me kinda nervous. I'd need to shower before sitting on those pristine white covers, and then I'm sure I'd leave grotty wrinkles when I stood up... For me, minimalist doesn't equal zen - it just makes me think of cleaning. And I've got far more important things to think about than cleaning...

floral fabulosity

Sun protection would be positively covetable with a hat like this would it not? I'm a sucker for blowsy blooms and floppy hats - combined? C'est magnifique!

mmmmm miu miu

Luckily, no matter how bizarre the fashion, there are always a pretty pair of shoes to delight my senses. I always fall hard for a bow, particularly when it's combined with a peep-toe, so no wonder these shoes easily won the title of shoe of the week.

Enjoy your Monday my lovelies x

snap happy sunday

Every photograph I've ever seen by Tim Walker makes me smile. His eye for colour and the ridiculous takes his work into another realm. I need to do a little spring cleaning today, so I'm going to hold this pretty image in my head and whistle while I work...

here piggy piggy

Last night's dinner was beyond sublime. We chose the degustation menu at Bacchus, Newcastle's most gorgeous restaurant, and were both enraptured. We started with a seared tuna amuse bouche, moved onto a poached quail egg with mushrooms a la greche, then it was local snapper, followed by a sublime duck breast on a bed of puy lentils and lentil puree.

I was pretty sure that the meal reached its zenith at that point. Honestly, the duck breast was cooked sous vide which made it achingly tender and beautifully rare. The lentils were spicy and added the perfect accompaniment - oh, and I can't forget the duck 'oysters' {remember that scene in Amelie where the guy shows that the chicken oysters are the best part? Well, same goes for duck}. Mmmmm.

Then our palate was cleansed with pineapple sorbet with baby coriander. Mmmmmmm.

Well, so as I was sitting there, sipping wine, chatting with my beloved and feeling pretty positive that I'd reached the peak of culinary excellence the pork plate came out. Excuse me while I take a second to compose myself... Oh my. There was an amazing pile of ham hock, so exquisitely spiced and flavoured that it took my breath away, a piece of pork shoulder so rich and deep that my mouth was pretty sure it'd died and gone to heaven. Think that's the peak? No way. There was the pork pie. Good lord, the pork pie. Pastry so thin, so light and so dense with flavours encased the most delicious pork meat I've ever eaten... Divine. Accompanied by a white bean puree, white bean foam {not that silly light fluff - but light, exquisite essence of beans} and a pork scratching that snapped in my mouth and filled it with porky deliciousness. I nearly cried while eating it as it was just so damned delicious.

I can still taste it...

Then a muscat creme brulee came out and set my heart a-fluttering. Creme brulee is my favourite pudding and I was worried that the muscat would overpower the delicate custard. Which, as the chef is obviously a genius, it didn't. It enriched and infused the custard with the most extraordinary flavour - so much so that I finished every last mouthful, expecting to be rolled out.

Then, a tray of six petit fours were placed beside us. A wee chocolate truffle, a rich butterscotch caramel and a perfect lemon meringue pie. Divine.

It was a complete dining experience from the surroundings in an old theatre, exquisitely reworked as a restaurant to the professional, friendly and attentive staff.

It didn't come cheap - but it was worth every single cent.

happy weekend

With the minute-hand creeping ever-closer to champagne o'clock it really feels like the weekend doesn't it? I'd like to spend a little time tidying my study this weekend. This year I'd love to have some floor-to-ceiling bookshelves installed, but until that beloved moment arrives I might settle for a good tidy and throw out.

I've spent the day cleansing in preparation for tonight's dinner - tuna salad sandwich for lunch, a ramekin of watermelon for afternoon tea... I want myself to be prepared for a real gastronomic experience. Please let there be pork or duck on the menu - or should I go for something completely different? You know me, always up for a new experience.

How about you and what you've got on for the weekend?

wooo hue

Those who've known me for a while will realise that I love colour combos that provide a sharp contrast. Today I have deep purple toenails and scarlet fingernails - and it's making me happy. That's why I love what Lauren Conrad is wearing. For a start, that coat is quite possibly the prettiest thing I've ever seen and winter-wear in a summery hue is always a fabulous statement. When it's combined with a slash of scarlet lips it topples over into seriously delicious status. And let's not even start about the scarlet soles on those black Louboutin pumps...

Well, I had my first Alliance Francais lesson last night and let me tell you how glad I am that I went with beginners rather than continuing beginners class. I learned bucketloads in two hours - including how to break french words into syllables {after the verb!} and how to pronounce every sound. It was a mixed bag of a class - with only one annoying woman who chose to pronounce every word as the teacher was saying rather than afterwards {you know, cos she knew how...} Distracting, but I concentrated on watching the teacher's mouth and tried to block this woman out.

I feel mighty confident that my pronunciation is going to be kick-ass - now if only I can get my befuddled brain to remember new things I'll be fine.

Tonight we're off to snazzy restaurant. It keeps raining off and on so I'm a little scared to bust my Manolos out of the box. Maybe my husband can do some kind of gallant plastic carpet laying in a path to the restaurant for me...

I'll be missing Come Dine With Me tonight so I'll need to record it. If James Brown comes last I'll cry - seriously, that man needs to become my best friend stat. Love him! This weekend's stretching out without a huge amount of plans again. I'm going to get back into entertaining soon - I've got one gorgeous family I really owe an invitation to but she's such an amazing cook I need to find a menu I know will delight her... Maybe I could get out the cookbooks to search for inspiration this weekend!

dangerous curves

I really never thought I'd see the day when a curvy woman wore a Victoria Beckham design. But Jennifer Hudson not only carries this look off - she positively steals the show. I adore her high pony tail and that fringe that deserves the title of bangs. Oh, and her pumps - I do so covet...

tea time

As I'm cutting down on coffee, I'm going to be increasing my tea... The caffeine's not the issue {sleep problems? Moi?} it's more that I'm drinking too much milk with my double-shot lattes.

So now mid-morning and mid-afternoon are tea time. I'm going to use one of my pretty antique tea cups and saucers and make a damned fine cup of tea to enjoy. I'm pretty sure that with my collection I won't be drinking from the same cup twice for a few months...

je parle francais

Tonight's the start of my French lessons at Alliance Francais - guess how excited I am?!?!? Exactement! I hope my brain's ready for this - it's been slumbering the last few days. Each morning I'm waking more groggy than the day before. I'm blaming staying up late to watch Come Down With Me on Lifestyle +2 {how do I love that show... And how do I love James Brown - gorgeous man that he is - and he's decorating his home 1930s Paris Burlesque tonight, be still my heart}.

I have been walking each evening which is my saviour. So many times I've felt too tired, or too busy, but I'm putting my health first and making sure that I take 30 minutes a day for a walk. I'm also cutting my coffee consumption down to two cups a day {eek - at least they're both double shots - shhhhh}.

Hopefully this French course will be just the exercise my brain needs. I can't abide Cryptic Crosswords and can't even begin to understand what Sudoko's all about so using my brain to learn a language could be just what it needs.

Okay, time to do a phone interview - and then I'll need to paint my nails in readiness for my class. Chanel red? Oui!

snap happy

I've always had a love for photography - so much so that my major at Uni was actually photography {with a minor in journalism...} However, three years of bickering lecturers with their own agendas almost put me off photography for life. Now, I'm keen to get behind the lens again.

With a long-ish OS trip planned next year I'm keen to get the shots I want - so a bit of research was in order. Luckily one of my friends is an exceptionally talented photographer who's sharing his skills over here.

One article I found particularly relevant was about getting up close to your subject - I'm always far too tentative and tend to stand so far back and pretend I'm not shooting the subject - and end up with a whole lot of superfluous background with a dim spec of a subject in the distance.

If you're interested in photography {and I know so many of you are} check out photographyfortravellers.com - it's mighty inspirational...

order in the house

When you work from home the toughest thing is ignoring the state of the house and settling in to do work without distractions. Ordinarily I can achieve that, but today, erk. I can hear next door's cleaner working away getting their house all clean and shiny and even though I'm locked in the study I can feel how messy my own house is. Hubby's working on a project so has piles of paper around the living room, rainy days have meant the washing's in teetering mountain-like structures and too much relaxing on the weekend means that stuff that needed to get done just didn't.

So rather than sitting here letting it bug me, I'm going to get up and put in 55 minutes-worth of serious cleaning and tidying. Then I can sit down and revel in my clean workspace and get stuff done.

lookin' good

This gal's red carpet looks having me going "Sqeeeeeee!" with Glee {and seriously kicking myself for missing that show - which I'd love - because it's on free-to-air which I always forget about - must rectify that NOW}.

Anyhow, I adored Lea Michele in a plunging emerald green frock at the Golden Globes {and was seriously concerned as to whether her hollywood tape would hold out - it did} - but now she's upped it a notch and is wearing FEATHERS. I love me a fluffy frock. I have naught outfits containing feathers in my wardrobe, but in my imagination there are tons.

This, I'm loving. Seriously my fave Grammy frock.

in the swim

It's the school swimming carnival today an even I used to love, but my daughter tends to loathe. The competitive gene seems to have skipped a generation where my gal is concerned - or maybe it was the Montessori pre-schooling combined with being an only child that does it. But anyway, despite years of swimming lessons and the fact that she'll happily swim for hours in our pool she's not quite sure if she wants to enter any races.

So I'm off to do some gentle encouraging so that she at least has a go at backstroke - and maybe her age race. Surely she will - if only to show off her snazzy polka-dotted swimsuit {blue - not that one above that I really, really, really need!}.

PS: TV-wise I'm not sure what I'm thinking of the contestants on this week's Come Dine With Me {aside from James Brown who I luuurve!}. Oh, and we taped My Kitchen Rules last night as I was busy flinging my poor old body around a netball court {feeling very sore and on the verge of death today - but we won!}.

food of angels

Taking a bite of an angel food cupcake is like nibbling on a cloud. These pure-white pretties were flecked with vanilla beans and topped with a wee bit of buttercream icing were rather sublime. I'd love to make little butterfly cakes next time with whipped cream and butterfly wings made from strawberries. Cuteness!

I had a few un-iced cupcakes leftover from the party so they're in the freezer awaiting a reinvention as raspberry and pink champagne jelly trifle. I really shouldn't keep them waiting too long should I?

mmmmmmm marc

Some designers I just adore: crazy Karl, John Galiano, Tom Ford... and Marc Jacobs. Their individual style infuses the pieces they create with a something that just brings out the covetous gene in my body. Like these pretty Marc Jacobs shoes. Look at 'em. How cute is that heel and the two-toned bow? With another designer this could have been heavy-handed or twee - but Mr Jacobs and his magic touch have created a positively drool-worthy shoes that really should be living in my closet.

Now, what are your plans for this week? I'm easing into it after a lovely relaxing, yet productive, weekend. On friday night the boy and I are out to dinner at a restaurant I've been dying to frock up for - Bacchus. Oh, it's lush alright.

I also want to send out love and hugs to Megs who's due to have a wee babe tomorrow. Naughty blogger wouldn't let me comment on her blog - so here's my best wishes here. Good luck for tomorrow and can't wait to hear all about your bundle of joy.

simply sunday

The last two nights we've had torrential downpours while we've slept - which means that today, a mild, sunny 25 degrees, is the perfect gardening day. We're going to top up some soil in the planter boxes out by the pool, mulch and fertilise.

What have you got planned for this summery sunday?

you may kiss the bride

Chanel Neon Baroque collection? Oh I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I DO!

pink of perfection

Have a glorious weekend and make sure you do something today that makes you smile.

bonjour mon petit chou

Guess what? I've just enrolled in my Beginner's French lesson at the Alliance Francais and je suis un peu ecstatic! Even though I studied French for two years at school {read: stared out the window thinking how much I hated my teacher and asking if yoplait really was french for yoghurt...} and am able to speak the basics I decided to go with the beginner's class rather than continuing beginners so that I get it right from the start.

Now you know I'm going to go all frocked up in black and white stripes and red-lipsticked to the first night don't you and everyone there will find me tres tragique... Don't care - too excited. Now, pass me the baguettes, the rillettes, the cornichon, the radishes and the champagne - there's celebrating to be done!

happy friday

Well, it's the end of the first week back at school - and normality has returned. This weekend we've got nothing planned - not a thing. We'll just potter about and get stuff done - whatever stuff needs to get done. There will be swimming, there will be walking, sadly there will also be school book covering {inventor of contact: I do not heart you}...

And tonight there will be champagne drinking while the sun goes down. Oh my, yes indeed...

safe-keeping

One of my worst habits is putting things in an odd spot. You know, I'll come in, fling the keys on the {un-made} bed and then, when I attempt to go out will fluff around trying to find them {funnily enough I always look on the key-hanger in the kitchen first - but never put the damned things on there first...}. So, just now, I was searching for my daughter's Smiggle calculator as she needs one to take to school. Didn't find it but I did find around 45 pencil cases, 25 erasers, 15 pencil sharpeners, enough textas to deck out the entire school - and her 2007 Santa photo.

I'm trying to get all her santa photos together so I can arrange them all from her first when she was nearly one, till the modern day. So at Christmas I found all but 2007 and 2003 and displayed them proudly along the sideboard. Then, I gathered them all up and put them in a safe place. Now, I've just gone to put the 2007 photo with all the rest - and am damned if I can find the stupid safe place.

I know it's not behind the jar of nutella in between the lasagne noodles and coriander and lime microwave rice - mainly because I found a packet of AAA batteries there. Perfect spot for them really - not in the drawer a mere few steps away where I keep batteries and rechargers. Nope, that'd be stupid because if robbers came in they'd be able to steal all my batteries because they were in such a damned obvious spot.

So, from today I'm finding a perfect spot for everything and NO MATTER WHAT I'm putting whatever it is wherever it belongs. Pinky swear!

edge of normality

Back to school today and how blissful that is. I've loved the school holidays, but am so thankful to return to reality. I like having my days laid out in an orderly manner.

One very excited child packed her bag for school this morning. I was tres organised and had servings of home-made pikelets ready to go in the freezer {we made Nigella's american breakfast pancakes on Tuesday and with the leftovers I made a week's worth of pikelets - too easy} and last night I made a batch of mini quiches {potato and chorizo - as per my gal's request}. When the requisite first day of hairstyle was done {high plaits were called for "as neat as school photo day" was the request} one shiny shoed and beaming gal trotted off to school.

Bless.

So I've got a story to work on, a desktop on my computer to clean up and coffee to be consumed. Tonight we're having panko/gremolata crumbed pork cutlets for dinner and I'm already salivating. They're dead easy - chop flat-leaf parsley, the zest of one lemon and a garlic clove or two together to make gremolata and then mix that with equal parts of panko breadcrumbs. Dip pork cutlets {smooshed with a meat mallet - or rolling pin in my case - so they're thin enough to cook through evenly} in beaten egg that's been seasoned with salt and pepper then press the panko gremolata mix into them evenly. Shallow fry in olive oil and butter mix until golden brown {finish off in a 180 degree oven for five mins if you're not sure about their doneness}. Serve to a fawning audience with a red cabbage and almond coleslaw {yoghurt, garlic and lemon dressing - yum}.

school daze

My school reunion is coming up in 10 weeks. Eek. It's been 75 years since I left school, and about 74 years since I've seen any old school friends {dates approximate}. Must say that I'm glad there hasn't been a reunion earlier because I probably would have found myself fretting and dieting myself into a frenzy for it. Now I'm happy to acknowledge that I'm not the skinny girl who left high school. I'm also not the insecure girl with the self-esteem issues that went along with that size 10 clothing tag.

Nope, I'll be happy to frock up in something fabulous {do you think I could find some 50s Dior divinity at my local op-shops?} and look forward to catching up with some old {literally} friends.

I wonder who'll have invented post-its...

love is all you need

On such a grey old day my thoughts are turning to my blessings: lovely husband, sweet daughter, great family, gorgeous friends - and all of my new bloggy friends. I adore how the blogging world has filled a part of my life with so many amazing people. Thanks x

food flight

Every now and then, when I have a spare moment, I start adding a little research to my holiday files. Interestingly, around 95 per cent of the experiences I'm aiming for while in Paris are food-related - but that's okay non?

totally tuesday

It's a quiet old Australia Day in this household. My husband's taken our daughter and her bestie down to Westfield Bondi Junction for some shopping and I'm home getting some work done. I've realised lately that I'm quite shopping phobic. While my sister-in-law was out here she and our niece went shopping. They left at 8.30am and got home at 6pm after spending the day at our local Westfield. I was horrified - what could they do? Shopped apparently. Window-shopped, actual-shopped, lunched in David Jones...

When it comes to shopping centres I like to get in, get what I need then quickly leave. There's no browsing. The only way I know about something new is if I've seen it on-line or in a magazine. Window shopping is a form of personal hell {unless I'm checking out the windows of high end stores in Paris - that I can do...}

But op-shops... Now that's different. See, in an op-shop I can uncover treasure. I never know what to expect and am often surprised. A new op-shop's opening in my neighborhood on Feb 3. My gal cracked that I'd probably set up a mattress and camp out on the doorstep over night. Which got me to thinking...

meal planning monday

The start of the school week means starting fresh with menu planning. I'm over fretting at the last minute what to cook and spending a fortune on groceries. So here goes:

tonight: mini pizza and salad

tuesday: beef, spinach and brocolini stir fry

wednesday: gremolata and panko-crumbed pork cutlets with red cabbage coleslaw

thursday: thai marinated chicken thighs grilled on the bbq with a green salad

friday: crispy skin salmon, lemon potato slices and green salad

saturday: steak and salad bbq night

sunday: husband and child's night to cook: mexican or home-made pizza!

Wednesday night I'll also be whipping up some mini frittata or mini quiche for the gal's lunch. Surprisingly simple and fills her up till home time.

mmmmm mustard

If you'd have told me that my fave look from the SAG awards would have asymetrical shoulders and would be in a fetching shade of mustard I would have laughed till I burst something.

But here's Diane Kruger in my fave frock of the night {sans my fave accessory of hers - Pacey!} The look's reminiscent of Michelle Williams and her fabulous yellow oscar frock with scarlet lips - but I'm thinking Kruger has upped it a notch.

Now, here's the thing I don't get about award shows. Why is it that films and television are all about suspension of belief. We're meant to believe that this actor is a totally different person, maybe that they can fly, that they'll totally survive an explosion that propels them 40 feet in the air via flames and toxic gasses... And yet, there's barely an actor who believes that when they go up to present or acknowledge their success the microphone is capable of picking up speech if the mouth is not directly in front of it.

Stop slouching people!

Why, oh why do so many people bend down to the microphone? It's just maddening.

rose gold beauties

Monday should start off nicely don't you think? So here's a rose gold Valentino with a peep toe to start off your day. I have olive skin so rose gold tones don't manage to bring out the yellow like traditional gold can. Wouldn't these look divine with a navy skirt?

So, what are your plans for the week? School's back on thursday so we'll be getting the uniforms ready, planning meals and working out the ideal 'back-to-school' hairstyle. Busy, busy.

a little shhhhhhh

Today I'm on go-slow. I woke slowly, had a big bowl of coffee, slowly swept the debris from the pavilion after yesterday's windstorm and now I'm slowly browsing through a few blogs and am just going to chill.

Hubby and I will go for a walk with our gal later on, down to the beach, and she can check out the playground equipment while we breathe in the salty air - and maybe jump on a swing ourselves.

There were big hugs and tears at the departure gates yesterday as we saw off my sister-in-law and our two nieces. It's bittersweet having adored relatives who live so far away. It does mean we've got a base to go visit them when we hit the UK, and that we get an intense few weeks when they come out here, but there's no casual drop-in - and phone calls have to be timed precisely {something I completely suck at}.

It's been a busy few months, and I've enjoyed every second of them, but today, I think a bit of relaxation's in order. I need to recharge and gear up for school starting this week {hurrah! although there's a larger hurrah from a certain young lass who's made herself an I heart school badge and is displaying it on her jammies as we speak!}.

happy weekend

We're driving the English relatives to the airport today. Much tears will be shed. At least we've got our trip next year to look forward to.

What about you? What are your plans for the weekend? Hopefully lots of rest interspersed with plenty of fun!

done and done

Two articles sent off. House relatively tidy. Child happy after a swim. Mother happy after a swim. Guess what I need now? Go on, try? Can't say I'd say no to a cocktail 'round about now...

perfect places

I need a cleaner. Stat! My floor is covered with bits of popcorn, crackers and sugar {detritus from the party yesterday!} there are towels and swimmers on every surface and let's not even discuss the state of my bathroom.

Combine this with a child who'd quite like to be entertained, a writer who needs to finish two articles and the arrival of my father and step-mother tonight and you have one grey-hair sprouting, shallow-breathing lil black duck on your hands...

I think I'll have to do the basics. 1. Pay the 10-year-old to vacuum the house. 2. Take her for a swim and 3. Mop the bathroom floor and wipe down the vanity and mirror. 4. Finish first article off by lunchtime. 5. Finish second article off by 3pm. 6. Arrange a simple dinner of great bbq steaks and salad. 7. Breathe...

something shiny

I'm a Magpie who's seriously taken by anything shiny. So, although I've got much to do today {am hosting my goddaughter's 5th birthday party here this afternoon! Because her home's back in England...} these shiny shoes will keep my spirits high.

Bouyed by the success of the angel food cake on my daughter's birthday I'm making angel food cupcakes today - you know, because if something succeeds why not tweak it? Fingers crossed it'll work out just fine...

Oh, and these pretty shoes are by Valentino - thus proving that good taste and shininess can go hand in hand {although I am taken with Kellyansapansa's explanation of Judith Leiber's purses...}. Enjoy your Thursday!

messing with my head

Just in case that very attractive camel purse I featured earlier this week didn't tickle your fancy, or left you with too much small change swishing about, here's another Judith Leiber purse. In the shape of Ganesh.

You're welcome.

Oh, and it's nearly five thousand pounds... Or you could donate that to Haiti relief and rummage around in your kid's toybox and find something similar.

Up to you.