a red hot start to the week

After the somewhat frustrating and annoying nature of the last few weeks I'm determined to start this one off well. And what better way to start off a Monday than with a pair of lipstick red Ferragamo heels?

Pretty!

So, how was your weekend? Ours was fabulously jam-packed. The Halloween Party last night was a success. 10 kids all costumed up went around the neighbourhood trick or treating at homes that were decorated to show they were interested {oh, and some of the decorations were incredible - I'll have to post them later!}. The kids had so much fun wandering the streets {with us mums as a close distance to help them cross roads and to yell out "Don't forget to say 'thank you!'"} and they all came back for a swim and a snack afterwards. Bliss.

Sure Halloween's an American tradition, but it's an excuse to dress up and for kids to have fun, so I'm happy with that. Also, it's an opt-in or opt-out event. If you're keen, decorate a Jack O Lantern and pop it out the front, if not, then ignore the pesky knocks on the door.

Enjoy your Monday, and your week!

happy halloween

Creepy, spooky, and a little bit kooky, I must say that I'm glad Halloween's coming to Aus. It's a good reason to dress up and get together with friends over ghoulish cupcakes. We're off to a party at a friends' where the whole street gets involved. Plenty of kids, and plenty of keen doors to knock on to fill up those little jack'o'lantern lolly pots.

Cuteness.

mighty fine dining

Oh, the excitement when you uncover a gem. I'd heard a wee bit of buzz about this new-ish place in Newcastle, East End Enoteca and had it in the back of my mind as a dining option. So when I heard that foodie friends were coming up from Sydney and Melbourne, well, I knew Newcastle had to turn it up a notch.

So last night eight of us turned up at this fabulous place. Perfect size, perfect atmosphere - and oh, the food. We went with the tasting menu where delicious plates of Italian-inspired produce were continually produced before our ever-so-amazed eyes. Oh my.

Starting with either a Kir Royale or a summer cocktail of Elderflower and Prosecco {or Peroni for some of the boys}, we nibbled on spicy grissini sticks and marinated olives. Then came the food. Lordy - can words do it justice? A lemon tuna paté that was quite possibly one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten was followed by pork meatballs in a sweet tomato sauce, ocean trout and scallops so plump and tasty I'm drooling at the memory, then an incredible pork number, salads, crispy garlic potatoes, pan fried snapper fillets {with more scallops and a carrot puree} and finally a massive rib roast of beef.

Think that's enough? Oh no, there were also delightful morsels of aranchini and a gorgonzola risotto so creamy, so delightfully tasty, so perfectly accessorised with wilted radicchio that I may never eat another risotto such was the lofty taste heights that this number assumed.

We concluded the night {and by we, I mean me} with a cassis panacotta {mmmmm} or affogato and then icy limoncello.

If you're ever in Newcastle, no, hold on, make plans to come to Newcastle and book in with a group of friends. Oh, and we also highly recommend the Tuscan Sangiovese that helped wash everything down so well.

Sated? Oh yeah.

utter perfection

Well, Sarah Blasko was a revelation last night - what. a. voice. We saw her a few years ago in an inner-city pub and she was amazing, but in concert in a beautiful theatre? Well, the acoustics and atmosphere only served to enhance her angelic voice and mesmerising performance.

The only thing I kept getting distracted by were her musicians - they were amazing. Totally into their performance and with fingers that flew across their instruments. She had the most delightfully voluptuous violinist with a talent for the instrument and a pair of shoes I ached for. And the pianist! Well, he was fabulous, and I couldn't stop thinking of Rianna at Last Doll Standing {love, he's your HUSBAND - the beard, the hair, the boots - oh my!}.

A totally perfect night that made me fall in love with Sarah Blasko all over again {as if I weren't already seriously smitten}

grey moods

Feathers! Shiny corsets! Marion Cotillard! Am loving on this shot from the new Dior Campaign Lady Grey featuring the divine Ms Marion.

I'm extraordinarily fond of the shiny showgirl look and think it's the perfect way to dazzle the dreariness out of today...

something's gotta give...

Well, I don't know what's in the stars, the air or even the earth's core but whew, these past few weeks have been challenging. Here I was, juggling away, I had a few daggers, a couple of flaming torches, a chainsaw and even a couple of those squishy balls made from birdseed-filled-balloons when suddenly whole new dimensions were added to the mix and that's it, it all came tumbling down.

From the massive, teetering piles of washing that seem to keep growing no matter how often I wash, to the general grottiness of the house, to a job that caused me palpitations and angst into the early hours - and ended up a complete and utter shocker - to a forgotten birthday, hidden on the calendar amidst many other "DO NOT FORGET" items.

Sigh.

I've beaten myself up over it and am trying to gather myself and move forward. But I know I'm not alone. I've read other blogs and thought, "Oh my god, you're totally living my life..." The realistic side of me knows that these things have to occur every now and again just to force us to pay attention and move forward in a better and brighter manner. But gee, couldn't they be a little more gentle and subtle about it? You know, more of a tap on the shoulder rather than a slap in the forehead?

It's time for me to prioritise, organise, timetable and activate myself to ensure I don't let this happen again.

what's cooking wednesday

Sorry for my tardiness - I seemed to have some 24 hour virus thing that was thankfully resolved with a nap until lunchtime {I swear my body puts these things on just to force me to sleep...}

Anyway, here's what's on the menu this week.

Tonight: Dad and step-mother are visiting - so salmon on the bbq with some salads. Yum.

Thursday: hubby and I are off to see Sarah Blasko performing at the beautiful Civic Theatre. Le sigh. Sister-in-law and her two gals are babysitting. I think mini hamburgers made with chicken mince burgers {s.i.l. doesn't eat red meat} will go down a treat.

Friday: Out to dinner with friends. Hurrah. We're checking out the East End Enoteca - a place I've heard quite the buzz about on Twitter. It's an Italian-inspired place with a Family Table policy - small meals shared around groups. With options such as peppered venison and scampi and yabbies those plates won't want to be placed in front of me as I'll be ever-so-inclined to be greedy!

Saturday: Nothing planned. Hurrah. I think we'll have a salad with poached chicken breasts, crunchy prosciutto, poached eggs and cos lettuce {yep, does sound like a caeser salad doesn't it?}

Sunday: Roast night. Standing rib roast of beef appeals.

Monday: Twilight Netball Night: San choy bow with turkey mince perhaps {I'm woefully remiss when it comes to cooking with turkey - but thanks to Frilly Hills Liss I think I'll give it a shot.}

Tuesday: Pork cutlets will go down a treat after ballet don't you think? With an apple 'coleslaw' perhaps.

What are you nibbling on this week?

road trip

Big drive to the big smoke for a meeting today. Regular blogging shall resume on my return!

look at me, look at me...

I'm featured over at BellaMumma today spilling a few of my beauty tips. Go over and say hi. {PS: This photo - not me...}

presenting...

A cold, rainy, blustery monday deserves a pretty pair of shoes. So here I present to you these Giuseppe Zannoti numbers - all tied up with a big bow. I can't imagine a prettier pair of party shoes - can you?

waiting for the rainbow

Typical. We have the English nieces over today and it's bucketing down. My plans of plenty of swimming, followed by fish and chips at the beach, followed by swimming have been washed out. Eep! What to do? Perhaps a bit of play, a little crafty stuff then we'll close the blinds, rent a DVD, pop some corn and have a movie experience at home. I'll also let them stay in their jammies all day - that's always fun!

oh what a night...

As you can probably guess by my late posting, the mother's night went well. Really well. The change of venue went down a treat, there was plenty of yummy food circulating, the people who spoke were really well received, and everyone frocked up and looked fabulous. There was even dancing thanks to my iPhone {seriously, anything those things can't do? I made up a party list of songs on its iPod and we had music through the night}.

And yes, before you ask, some people with a bung knee may have worn heels {teeny little mary janes - teeny}. And yes, some people with a bung knee may have danced {but you know, dancing these days is all about the arms - not the feet!}. And yes, said people may be needing to ice said knee - but gee, some things are worth it.

My fabulous friends made this all worthwhile. From C who found the venue, to J who sorted the speakers and introduced them all, to G and K who were the door beyatches from heaven to N who helped kick off the dancing - oh, it was a night alright.

Now, best get myself ready to do it all over again - at least I'm not organising tonight's function - I merely have to turn up and have fun!

GLEE - "Time Warp" Full Performance from 10/26!

new love

Apple know their stuff. They know how to make covetable items for suckers like me. You know how just this past weekend I'd decided that I was gonna get me an iPad? Well, check out the new MacBook Air. Teensy, lightweight, gorgeous, multi-functioned and cheap{ish}. Just over $1100 will buy me one of these pretties.

Come to mama...

hear me roar

As a Leo, astrologers often suggest that I'll feel my most glamorous in animal prints but I've never been a lass to douse myself in leopard. However, when I saw this outfit on the lovely Livia I changed my mind. I could do this - particularly the accessories {and yes, I am talking about the lovely Mr Firth...}.

Love everything about this look - the shoes, the top, the hair, the lippy - the length and fullness of the skirt. Oh, and Colin Firth... {le sigh}

friday flowers

I was checking out my garden yesterday and noticed new shoots covering the hydrangea we planted last year. Woo hoo. Now I'll just need to find some bluing solution to ensure I get blue mop-topped fleurs rather than the pink they're struggling to be in my soil!

i'm gonna put on, my boogie shoes...

Well, at least a low-ish pair of heels... Yep, tonight's the night of our school mother's night that we've been organising and it looks like everything's fallen into place. We've got bigger numbers than they've seen in years, we've bought lovely french sparkling wine as a farewell gift for the mums who are leaving {rather than paint-stripper nasty stuff} and I do believe I even have a frock or two in mind.

Because we changed both the venue and the format for the evening {from a two course sit-down dinner at the local pub to finger food and champagne at a gorgeous new bar in town} I was worried we'd have a backlash from those expecting 'tradition'. However, as I said to a friend yesterday, traditions should really only be celebrated if they're successful and fun. While the other years have been fine, the venue couldn't offer us Friday nights - only midweek - and who wants to go out midweek and then have to get up for the school lunches the next day? Not this little black duck. Also, the sit-down format meant that there little opportunity for mingling and chatting - the real point of the evening.

So tonight there will be mingling and chatting. There'll also be a bar that's filled with cocktails and a really good variety of wines and spirits. There will also be plenty of food circulating - and some traditions will still stand {speeches from a few mums who're leaving, presentation of gifts to the mums and even coffee and tea available for the non-drinkers}

Off to paint my nails now {and my gal's who's on a pupil-free day today}. Wish me luck x

gucci coochie coo

Excuse me - J-Lo and her twins - cuteness incorporated! New Gucci campaign via Grazia.

oh yeah!

The ever-so-lovely Belinda from cupcakes frocks and pink saw this and thought of me {bless!}. So I thought I'd best share it with you - as I know there are quite a few of you who'd agree...

and repeat...

There are many things about this week I'm not liking - the world's most horrid and annoying job not working out like it should {instead, unsurprisingly, it worked out horrid and annoying to the end} and so many other niggly bits and pieces. I'm going to learn from them and then put them behind me - before moving forward.

I'll be needing some words to help propel me - and I think I quite like these. What's done is done, spending time fretting over it won't change it. Accepting it, learning from it and moving on is the best way to live a well-lived life.