perfectly pretty

I'm loving this image of Riley Keough in Vogue - although it does make me feel 900 years old - Elvis's little girl has a little girl this grown-up? Oh my!

Things from this shot I'll be needing? That bike, that garden, that skirt, that cardi, that hairstyle, those eyebrows, that cherry-red pout.

on the shelf

With my bookshelf due to arrive any moment now, I'm in full-on panic mode. Luckily I've sent of the article due today and have nothing pressing on the horizon - except for getting this house in order. I have a new motivation - the mortification index. If I'm trying to consider if something needs doing I consider how mortified I'd be if I didn't, and someone dropped by. At the moment I can safely say I'd be terminally mortified by the state of every single room in the house.

So I'm going to start in the hallway. As I've mentioned, everything that was on the bookshelves in the study is in piles in the hallway so I've been going through them, sorting out, tossing out, recyling, filing... I have managed to find all but one report card, school photo and santa photo {all from the same year mind - what was I doing that year?}. Once the hall's under control and cleared so the bookshelf can come through I'll clear some space in the bedroom for the shelf to sit for the next week - while we paint the study and wait for the carpet to be laid - next Wednesday afternoon. Woo hoo!

Okay, I'm off - wish me buckets of luck.

sweet treat

Oh my. Working when it's frosty really isn't my favourite thing. Because my study's now perfumed with the scent of eau de oil paint I'm keeping the air-con off so the fumes don't go through the whole house.

I'm close to finishing up my story that's due tomorrow - and oh boy, will I give myself a reward at the end. Maybe not a cake as enormous and gorgeous as the one here with Miss Kylie - but something lovely non-the-less. I have managed to pain my nails with a matte lavender shade {Orly Lollipop - love!} which has given me a glimmer of inspiration. Maybe I just need to pop on my iTunes and belt out a few Kylie tunes to get me through the next hour before school pick-up. Reckon that'll help me polish off a first-draft won't it?

miu miu for monday

Look at these shoes. Can you possibly bear to look at them and not feel like coming over all Mad Men. I'm in love.

So, were we happy with the finale of MasterChef last night? I was. Adam proved himself a worthy winner and Callum scrubbed up pretty well as runner-up {actually, every time they cut to that glorious Macaron Callum made in London I swooned...}. Adam, of course, had me at pork belly - and pork belly three ways? Hello, I think I love you. I was crying away when he won, and then when they wheeled in his nana in a wheelchair? Oh, I started blubbing like crazy. Much better than last year's finale when I was just incredulous at the result.

I have my last spurt of busyness today before I get a breather. I'll give myself a day to move all the stuff from the hallway and do a spot of work in the study and then Wednesday it'll be back into the usual freelancers life of pitching story ideas like a maniac.

Speaking of the study, husband and daughter set to work painting the trims gloss white while I had a sneaky nap yesterday {I know!} The trim was cream gloss, but looked more tired and dirty than antique. The white freshness is already zinging it up. Now we just need to make a decision on the wall colour. Paint samples are on the wall, and so far I have a fave, and my husband has a fave, let's see who's sample wins out shall we...

chop chop

So, who gets your vote in MasterChef tonight? I'm hoping for Adam, but won't be surprised if Callum romps home. I think Callum will end up becoming one of Australia's best chefs if some of his sweet sensations are anything to go by. I'd also happily snap up a copy of Adam's cookbook - I desperately need some guidance in the Asian cookery field.

put your feet up

There were a few moments yesterday when I had absolutely nothing to do. I'd dropped the gal at a birthday party, husband was at a boy's day, I'd pruned the lilly pillies and fertilised the roses so I sat on the couch and read the paper at a leisurely pace.

Bliss.

After I'd finished I started to get twitchy and look around for something to do: should I clean the bathroom, mop the kitchen floor? Something? Anything? Bueller? But I forced myself to chill and today I feel positively rejuvenated.

We've got a netball game in an hour - it's a rain make-up game. The sky's a delicate shade of blue, it's not too chilly and the gal's in a good mood. Hopefully we'll have a full team today - I was a player down yesterday which always makes for a tough game. Fingers crossed.

Enjoy your Sunday - hope you get to put your feet up - if only for 15 minutes {go on, make up a "Do Not Disturb" sign and give it a shot}.

sweet, it's saturday

Are you going to do something fabulous today? Paint your nails, have an afternoon nap, curl up in a comfy chair and read a book? Go on, you deserve it.

flowers for friday

fabulously friday

Hey there, how's tricks? I'm writing this in my study which only has a desk, chair, computer - and a helluva lot of dust in it! Last night while I was at French Lessons my lovely husband took every single thing from the room and slapped a test coat of paint on a patch of a wall. It needs a good vacuum, and then we'll have to get in and start washing down the walls and painting.

On a hectic deadline today - much chasing to do. So if I don't leave a comment on your blog, just know that I'd be either nodding my head in agreement, tsking in agreement, gaping my mouth in amazement or doing a little dance of joy in celebration {um, Beth, that's yours!}

Enjoy your day x

ladder love

You just know that I'm going to put things in daily use on the top shelf don't you?

essential ingredients

Morning {or afternoon, or evening...}. Hope you've got something fabulous planned for today. I'm finishing and sending off an article, then it's lunch with a gorgeous friend. This evening it's back into French lessons {praying I haven't forgotten everything from the past two semesters} and we're going to start on moving everything but the desk, chair and computer from the study in preparation for painting. Hurrah.

Now, MasterChef. I'm finding it hard to sustain interest at the pointy end. I hope Adam wins, but I'm guessing that Callum's popularity {he's consistently been a trending topic on twitter!} and the friendliness of his cookbook idea will see him slide through to victory. I do love some of his ideas - but oh my, Jimmy's chai latte brulee had my tastebuds buzzing last night.

I do have MasterChef to thank for the greater array of ingredients now available at Coles. Yesterday I bought Lilydale free-range chicken mince and was delighted to see a tray of Lilydale free-range chicken pieces. Bliss - chicken thighs with skin on! Nigella's St Tropez chicken here I come! Actually, might make that for dinner tonight. If you'll excuse me, I need to pop the chicken in a big zip-lock bag with a bottle of rosé, some honey, lime, garlic, olive oil and herbs de provence and marinated for 3 hours to overnight. Then it's taken out of the bag and tipped in a baking dish and baked slowly under alfoil for 1.5 hours, then the foil removed for the last 15 - 20 minutes to tan the skin deliciously. Mmmmm.

because i'm a lady

So, I have an article that needs to be sent off by tomorrow morning, dinner that needs to be cooked, a study that needs to have approximately 80 000 magazines and 10 000 books moved from it and what am I thinking "Gee, I don't think I've done a shoe of the week this week". So, despite the fact that nobody's sent me pining emails lamenting its absence - here you go.

This ladylike number by Lanvin would offset any frock - particularly a cream chiffon number. Now, when you hear the words "I'm a lady!" what pops in your head first? I'm hoping that like me, it's Marie from the Aristocats - and not those 'ladies' from Little Britain {although I think they'd love these too...}

bright idea

In exciting news {well, for me} my study renovation's underway. Yesterday hubby came home from lunch telling me he'd found the French Library I wanted - half price. So that wasn't to be sniffed at. So we bought it. Then we called about the desk I wanted. It was on sale. So we bought it. Then I realised we needed to get things moving before they were delivered and quickly called about the carpet. The measure's been done, the quote's on its way, and if the price is right I'll be ordering it to.

This is moving fast for us. Normally we start thinking about something, look into every possible avenue, look at a few more, think about it, look some more, think, look, think and then act. But with this it's a case of why not? I found the carpet I love, was able to afford the bookcase of my dreams {it comes with a LADDER people} and have found the perfect desk. Why wait? All we need to do is clean out, paint the room and then decorate.

Last thing's I'll need are a light fitting and a couple of blinds - but they can wait till everything else is in place {this wee light in the photo - how cute would that look in my butler's pantry?}

PS: It's my baby bro's birthday today. Not that I can ever imagine him delving into such pink, floral fluffiness as there is on this site, but anyway - Happy Birthday Jeff xxx

PS and by-the-way: How good is eBay? I bought a Cath Kidston iPhone case on Saturday night - and my iPhone is now happily snuggled inside. Happiness!

PS and an oh-my-gawd: This redecoration's going to be somewhat accelerated. When I first enquired about the carpet I was told there'd be a four-week-wait for laying. Upon ordering I'm told, 'we'll be there next week'. Eeep. So we need to move everything out, wash the walls and then paint them by this time next week. Guess I know what we're doing over the next few nights and days...

what's cooking wednesday

The meal planning went pretty much according to schedule last week - I even cooked the salmon {on Saturday night rather than Friday - but I cooked it!}. School's back in business now, along with ballet, netball and all the other activities, so this week's menu will reflect this. Here's what we're eating:

Wednesday: Netball training this afternoon, home late and starving. Provencal chicken, rice and broccoli shall do nicely. I'll cook the chicken before picking up the gals, cook it while we're getting ready and pop it in the slow cooker to stay warm.

Thursday: Back to French Lessons. Spaghetti Bolognaise

Friday: Chicken schnitzel, roasted vegies and salad

Saturday: Just the gal and I, hubby has his annual sporting day with his buddies. Hmmm, home-made pizzas perhaps?

Sunday: Roast dinner night. Love a Sunday Night Roast. I'll find something yummy at the farmer's markets. Last week we had pork belly. Oh yes we did!

Monday: Netball for me. Chicken tacos.

Tuesday: Ballet for the gal. Slow cooker beef curry, wilted spinach and rice.

Done. You?

and relax...

Every now and again I like to be extraordinarily busy. Super busy. Flat out like a lizard drinking. That busy. You know why? Not just because I feel productive, although that's part of it. No, I like the afterwards. When it's calm and it seems as though I have all the time in the world. I sent the last of the frantic deadline work off yesterday, flopped on the couch last night and today have pottered here and there, getting stuff done in a calm, unflappable manner. Bliss.

PS: that hammock, tied between olive trees and brushing by sprigs of lavender? Can you IMAGINE a better place for an afternoon nap?

lavender love

Lavender is a shade I positively adore - it's one of those happy, soothing hues that makes everything seem a little better. With all the redesigning, redecorating and renovating {in our future} that's going on in our home, I'm trying to work out where I can squish some lavender in. My study perhaps? Or the bathroom - like this? Mostly white, a touch of black, chrome and accents of lavender... Yep, I think that'll do just nicely.

school daze

Ahhhh, that's the school holidays over for another few months {nearly wrote 'phew months' ha!}. We survived nicely - but I'm glad to be back in the routine. I got myself organised over the weekend to ensure that all clothing was washed and ready to go, mini-quiches were cooked and in freezer or fridge, muffins also baked and in freezer and that there was a sufficient stack of suitable fruit in the fridge for fruit break {oranges and strawberries alternate this week}.

I took the gal shopping yesterday afternoon, and while we were in JB HiFi looking at a case for her iPod, I saw a shiny, new wireless mouse for my mac. I love my mac, but my mouse has been misbehaving for quite some time. The old Mighty Mouse would collect so much grot underneath that it would be tough to move around. You'd point the curser and all of a sudden it'd just fly off in another direction. The cord would tangle around itself, catch under the mouse, and had also frayed at the end, revealing bits of silver wiring underneath.

The job I've been working on over the school holidays involved a lot of editing. A lot of cutting, pasting, highlighting, deleting, adding... - a real mouse job. Doing that job with a dodgy mouse nearly did my head in - but did I do anything or did I just grumble?

I just grumbled.

So anyway, there I was yesterday, with a mouse staring me in the face. I sucked it up and bought it and oh my. Best $99 I've ever spent. When your job revolves around your computer it's best to make it the best computer possible. This streamlined little beauty works on any surface {even my leg - just checked} and it's so cute. It's possibly even taken a wee smidgen of my affection away from my new iPhone. Nah, I'm still besotted with that beauty.

Today, I'll be getting a buttload of work done with ease. Apparently the other mouse was a mighty mouse, but I reckon this one should be called "Magnificent Mouse".

birthday wish list

Considering that it's my birthday in just under three weeks and three days I thought I'd best get to thinking about my pressies {my husband's pretty smart - I'm sure he'll check my blog for hints!}. I need some new music to download to my iPhone - Emile Simon and Florence and the Machine will do nicely for starters...

well hello!

Oooh, it's oh-so-quiet. Husband left at 7.45 this morning to play golf, taking the wee lass with him. Last night she told us how much she missed her Nana {yes, this would be the nana we went away with, and that she had a three-night-sleepover with} so she's gone to spend the morning with her. Nana, as you can imagine, is positively tickled pink - as am I as it means I can get sooooo much done.

It's a glorious winter's day again today. Blue skies aplenty. So I'll be doing loads of washing, a bit of tidying and later on, cooking up a storm for school lunches. I've been inspired by Liss at Frills in the Hills and plan on doing a lot more freezing than I've done in the past {usually I'll make three days of quiches and keep them in the fridge}.

Last night I had my first real eBay success. I was hunting for a case for my iPhone because now I've got a black iPhone, daughter has a black iTouch and we have a black iPpod, I thought the chances of my walking out with the wrong iDevice were pretty high. So after some searching I found a Cath Kidston gadget case on eBay - with only a few hours till closing. I made my bid and followed my usual shopping guidelines {how much would I happily pay for this if I saw it in a store, regardless of the label?} and then put in my maximum bid {odd dollar number, odd cents number}. For the last 40 minutes I sat there watching and had the heart-stopping moments of watching the other bidder rise, and rise, and rise - until I won. They stopped $3.75 lower than me. I'm thrilled, particularly as Cath Kidston don't have this case on sale any more {it's white, with lovely pink roses}. Very happy.

Oh, and how much am I already loving my iPhone? How do I count the ways?

Finally - I did actually sneakily cook salmon for dinner last night after managing to skip it once again on its required night. Now, do I brave the crowds at the Farmer's Markets today, or just shrug my shoulders and shop at Coles... We'll see.

words for the weekend