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.

for your viewing pleasure

Please head over here if you like your men stylish. Please note the restraint I utilised in not posting a pic of Monseur Depp {but had to mention him anyway...}

schleeepy head

We had friends for dinner last night - much champagne and rich food was consumed. Hence, I'd quite like to be curled up in a bed as inviting as this. However, instead, I'm taking two girls out for the day - they're tossing up between a movie {Princess and the Frog - not, thank goodness that awful Alvin and the Chipmonks - squeaking and my present foggy head would not be a pretty match} or bowling.

Only one week left of these school holidays - I don't know how the Americans cope with a whole summer off. Summer school perhaps?

oh bless!

Chivalry at its sexiest {I always thought that Pacey totally kicked Dawson's ass...}

frill seekers

When it comes to high fashion, particularly for awards nights, I like a bit of razammataz. The plain and the safe can stay at home. I want ruffles, I want glitz, I want to wonder.

That's why the Best and Worst of fashion awards shows always bug me. My Best awards may not go for the perfect frock - they give a hurrah to those who are bold, striking and stick in my mind.

Fashion should be fun. It should be inspiring, and bring out the smiles. If it's so understated that you don't notice it, then, really, what's the point? Frocks should always be fabulous, in my humble opinion...

rolicking good fun

I loved this film soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much. Robert Downey Jr - freaking amazing. Jude Law, his perfect foil. Rachel McAdams, divine.

The plot, the cinematography, the giggles, the adventure. Sublime.

Seriously, you've got to see Sherlock Holmes. Richie's got his mojo back.

gold-plated glamour

Best thing about my migraine hangover today? I got to lay on the couch and watch the red carpet AND the Golden Globe Awards. Ricky Gervais entertained me nicely {My fave line: "I like a drink as much as the next man, unless the next man's Mel Gibson" who then walked out with a bemused expression - take that sugar tits}.

I've chosen an array of frocks above that entertained me for various reasons. Whether it's fabric, design or just all-over gorgeousity. I loved how HARD Chloe Sevigny posed in that gown on the red carpet - seriously, you've got to find footage!

Sadly, I couldn't find a pic of Mad Men's Christina Heindricks to steal. She looked va-va-voom as ever in a peachy, champagne Christian Siriano {Yep, from Project Runway!} frock. Man, her curves take danger to a whole new level...

Tonight I'm off to check out Sherlock Holmes - now that I love RDJ even MORE than I did before. Yep, I'm fulla love after the Golden Globes...

pink! and patent! {not mary janes}

To start off this monday I thought it best to brighten all our days with a splash of hot pink in the ultimate shoe fabric - patent! These little lovelies are from Giuseppe Zanotti and I've held them on my desktop after spotting them on net-a-porter on Friday {yes, after being assaulted by that danged camel purse - am I over that? Hell no!}

I had the migraine from hell last night so couldn't manage to get my eyeballs massaged with Robert Downey Jr's magnificence. Instead I dosed myself up and went to bed at 8.30. Boooooo!

Today I'm feeling remarkably refreshed, with only the slightest migraine hangover. Now I'm all psyched up and ready for the Golden Globes, please let Ricky Gervais be his usual spectacular self and provide me with fits of giggles. C'mon, I NEEEEEEEEEED it...