hello, excitement...

Can.

Not.

WAIT!

pink perfection

My peonies are just starting to open. I've got them on my desk and they're to be my oasis of calm today. I've been up since 6.30am - unusual for me. But we've been waiting on a delivery of pavers since Friday and he called last night to tell me he'd be here at 6.30/7am. A shocker of a time but as I have to have the pavers delivered down on the road and then carry them all, one-by-one up seven stairs to the footpath, then up two more stairs into my front gate I thought this was a sensible option.

Except he's still not here at 8.12am.

Grrrrr.

My husband's in Sydney on a training course for a few days so he can't help me and my smoothly organised day, which requires precision timing isn't looking so hot.

I've got my bestie coming up for a few days so we can have a working bee - she in the living room on her laptop and me in the study on my computer. She's got a book to finish off, I just have my usual run of work.

Tonight she's babysitting my gal as I'm off to a friend's school to listen to a presentation by The Butterfly Foundation about raising girls. I love the work these people do and hope I can come away with some more insight.

I'm diligent about raising a daughter with self confidence - and body confidence. One who'll make sensible food choices to nourish her body and soul and one who won't start on the destructive diet path {like I did at 11}. I'm proud to say that I've never made a negative comment about my body in her presence - I think it's important for a girl to see her mother as happy and confident in her skin. Last night she came and watched me play netball and get all red and sweaty {it must have been 40 degrees in that indoor sport shed!} and laugh along with all the girls in my team. We encourage her to play sport, to dance and to nurture her love of reading and art.

She's my peony that girl, and I'm going to continue to love watching her grow.

rose tinted attitude

It's hard not to be overcome with delicious perfume in any corner of my front yard today. Those delicious scarlet blooms are Mr Lincoln - a red rose with a heady scent. Just underneath are the delicate pale pink petals of Duchess de Brabant with her subtle scent and nodding blooms. So pretty.

And as you walk down the front stairs the heady aroma of gardenia offers a knock-out blow.

Now that I've got a vase-ful of peonies on my desk I'm pretty sure that life's complete...

shiny shiny

Generally speaking I tend toward clothing that's on the un-embellished side. I'm pretty sure that you'd be hard-pressed to find a sequin or shiny bit on any item of clothing that I own.

However, lately I've been edging ever-so-close to the shiny side.

Sequins are catching my eye and holding them in a covetous manner.

I suppose my biggest fear about shiny things is that someone will mis-label it as "bling" a word that's top of my loathe-list.

I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be one of those old ladies head to toe in Alexis Carrington-esque evening wear. But I'll be rocking it...

pink of perfection

Guess what? Yep, it's peony season. My love for these flowers is as grandiose as their blooms so this year I'm going to take advantage of it and buy a bunch of them at least three times during the season.

Sure, they're expensive, but I've spent the same amount of a bottle of wine which gives only fleeting pleasure. So instead, I'm going to break the cost down into days of pleasure and will probably only spend the equivalent of a decent cup of coffee per day. You can't put a price on pleasure...

life's a journey

garden grubs

We've got a working-bee weekend planned. I'll be out the front weeding and mulching the cottage garden, while Matt's out the back staking, pruning and fertilising the lilly pilly hedge by the pool.

Firstly though, I've got to get some order happening inside the house.

Husband and child off to Borders so child can spent her winnings from our family sweep from Melbourne Cup {she came in first, second and third so has won a ton of Borders Dollars - me? Jealous much?!?}. So I'm getting stuck in for 60 minutes of serious, no-interruptions cleaning. Shall put on some motivational music {hmmm, I'm thinking Foo Fighters or Pixies turned up to 11} and get to it.

Have a gorgeous weekend. x

frugal friday

After a very, very long absence, here's the return of Frugal Friday. Yep, I haven't really had that much to write about lately, but now I have a secret to share.

True frugalistas will know of what I'm about to speak, but to me, I've uncovered a revelation.

The discount chemist.

You seen them? Heard of 'em? Been into one? They're pretty damned amazing let me tell you.

I accidentally wandered into one earlier this week while in a different suburb and off searching for my bank's ATM {saving myself $2 in fees - double frugal}.

Obviously one of the main savings with discount chemists is with scripts and vitamins, but let me tell you people, the toiletries! I stocked up on toothbrushes, toothpaste, sunscreen and hairdye at prices I couldn't believe. Even on sale at the supermarket I'd never paid such a low price for these items.

I'll be going back again next time I need to stock up. They even had weird stuff like washing up liquid for sale at ridiculously low prices.

Bargain city.

fine lines

Tickets go on sale for my daughter's ballet concert today at 3pm - and let me tell you, the competition for Big Day Out tickets isn't so fierce.

I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'm turning up at 2pm, magazines in hand, folding chair at the ready, to hopefully secure us prime seating.

Yep, all this for a child's concert - but look - she's wearing a red tutu - so worth it!

Actually it's such a beautiful show that I'll probably still be lining up for tickets even after my gal hangs up her dancing shoes {which, hopefully will be on the 12th of never!}. Judging by the gorgeous costumes on display at the dress rehearsal Tuesday this year's going to be another fantastic show.

late adopter

I am not one of those people who line up to be the first to buy the latest and greatest. I like others to test things out and time to mull it over before I give in.

I waited for yonks to get onto facebook. Twitter? Well, I signed up kicking and screaming and have barely uttered a tweet.

I think it's a throwback to my dad who was, and is, an early adopter. We were the first in the neighbourhood to have a colour telly {yes, I really am this old...} and VHS {not Beta - he was a lucky early adopter}.

So anyway, my old Cath Kidston nokia phone is slowly dying. The screen's fading and really, it can't offer me what I really need. So the next obvious choice for a mac-lover such as myself is to throw myself at the feet of an iPhone.

Santa?

out the front

Here's a peek at our 1920s metal setting that my dear husband sanded, rust-proofed and painted, before we popped down the pretty cushions my mother made for us on her last trip.

It's the perfect spot to sit and watch the sunset...

in my garden today

ssssssssssso ssssssssssssssexy

Excuse me for interrupting, but how divine is the snakeskin print on these Jimmy Choos? I'm besotted with them. I'm also loving the sensual curves of every single piece of that strapping. Plus, the ankle strap is nice and low so it doesn't do that leg-cutting-off-thingy of most ankle straps.

Oh, I covet.

in kellyworld

Kelly Bensimmon from Real Housewives of New York, wandering down the street, wearing a series of bathmats as some kind of fuzzy overgarment.

Celebrating 40 years of the muppets in a manner way less cool than Google? Or just plain cuckoo? You decide.

face, body or both?

Most women have to choose face or butt - however, apparently Demi can have both. Sure, I know there are rumours about a gazzilion dollars worth of plastic surgery, but, tell you what, it's damned subtle and amazing. {Apart from her boobs in Striptease - they were the exact opposite of subtle - or natural}.

According to the text in W magazine {where these fab shots are featured} in real life Demi looks a little gaunt, not as dewy as she used to and her face wrinkles and moves. Oh to look half as good when nearing 50...

reeeeoooow

Tom Ford, I love you!

un-real, banana peel

Hoooooh boy, what a night it was last night for reality tv. Part two of the Real Housewives of New York was an utter cack. The call of "Put down that crack pipe Ramona!" followed by one of Ramona's signature crazy-eyed stares was one highlight {ps: how much does Ramona look like Dina Lohan?}. Kelly's consistently bemused state, inarticulate arguments and Shhh, Shhh, Shhhing...

Poor wee lad in the middle hoping to moderate a moment. There can't have been a martini stiff enough for him to have dived into when the show concluded.

And then, finally, the finale of Hells Kitchen UK. Lots of recaps, hilarious drunken moments from my fave Colin and Justin from Home Heist {including Justin's drunken jubilation and hugging of the winner!} Bless! Then, after making me wait three weeks till I saw the winner - it was over in a flash. The winner is... Applause, then draw curtains. Damn, that was a bit wham, bam, thank you ma'am.

I ended up loving Linda so much by the end that I was happy for her to win. But please, can Adrian please return to our comedic screens post haste? What a skill for mimicry that man has - and the most beautifully expressive face.

So, tonight, it's Rachel Zoe. Will she recover from her dramatic illness? Will Taylor finally leave {um, well, I've checked out Dlisted and kinda got a hint in that direction} Will Brad melt my heart with his cuteness, and will Rog do his trademark Pug expression, head tilt, eyes wide, hair toss... So long as there are frocks I don't really care for the dramz. Give me sequins, gimme couture, show me the vintage. Oh, and Tay, just shut up and go!

cook off

Word on the street {not my street mind, as I've been trumpeting this event for three weeks now...} is that tonight is the finale of Hells Kitchen UK.

In this series my love for Ade Edmonson has grown so strong that I may well fly to the UK and reef him from his loving wife Jennifer Saunders's arms. Shan't though as I love her too.

However, I'm also becoming increasingly fond of Linda Evans...

Hmmmmm.

Now, as a huge Young Ones fan from way back I feel a certain pull towards Mr Bastard, however, Krystal provided some high points in my Dynasty viewing career {and serves as one of the anchoring points for many a Fug Girl quip...}

Let's see shall we?

moody blues

These are my freshly painted fingernails {yes, with the focus actually pointed at the violets... whoopsies}

It's my new lust - OPI No Room For The Blues. Now my freshly-trimmed-for-netball nails look so pretty tapping on my keyboard.

Surely I'm bound to get HEAPS of work done now...

monday must-do

This week, whew, I'm totally planning to be on fire. Yep, this week is the one where I get on top of everything and start the smooth cruise toward Christmas...

The sky's blue, it's warm and I've had a damn fine cup of coffee - what more could you ask for to start your week?

What've you got planned?