three ps

So, as I'm not allowed to talk about jury duty {the first rule of jury duty is that you can't talk about jury duty...} I thought I'd hold this place with a cute pic. Three ps: a puppy, on a pushie, in Provence.

Cute non?

shopping serendipity

A few weeks ago I went to a work conference. It was actually really, really interesting {not something I can normally say about these things}. Anyway, one of the speakers was discussing social media and winning an audience and said that on-line social media is no different to real-life social situations: the same things still apply.

And then he recommended a book, written in the 1930s, Dale Carnegie's How To Win Friends And Influence People. Now, this has always been on my read-one-day lists, so I thought it'd be good if I tracked down a copy...

Anyway, so I'm driving home to Newcastle, and spied an op-shop I've been dying to check out. With a park right out the front. I know! So I called in, and there, on the bookshelf was the book! Pristine - with a fabulous vintage hard cover. How's that for serendipity?

I grabbed a few more books, The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Nick Hornby's How To Be Good and a fabulous shirt for my hubby. Then, as I'm waiting to pay I spy pure gold on the shelf behind the cashier...

A perfect set of hallway skittles.

Now we have a hallway that's just designed for hallway skittles, but I've never seen such a set. These balls are some kind of amazing weighted foam - so are the skittles, not those crappy plastic ones.

And the price?

$9.

I know, obscene. I nearly paid $70 for a crappy plastic set that were ON-SALE!

See here? There'll be some bowling tournaments taking place here...

Now, to find the perfect bowling outfit {I'm thinking poodle skirt non?}

sweet, sweet saturday

Hey, how's your weekend panning out so far? We're headed off to tennis lessons shortly - and it's a glorious day to get out and about. There will also be the odd spot of gardening, and, groan, cleaning.

Sadly I'll also be doing a bit of work on the weekend as I've been called for Jury Duty on Monday {sob!} and there are just some things that have to be done.

Have a lovely weekend x

Love thyself

Just a little note to myself via my coffee...

I've had one of those weeks. Nothing life-shattering, just annoying and inconvenient. Rather than wallowing I thought I'd remind myself to "cheer up buttercup" and my coffee seconded the motion.

Good coffee. I love you too x

love this

happy 40th Willy Wonka

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the movie, some of the cast of Wily Wonka and the Chocolate Factory rocked out. Here's, from left to right, Mike TeeVee, Violet Beauregard, the Director (Mel Stuart) Veruca Salt and an Oompa Loompa.

I lost count of how many time I watched this as a kidlet, and my daughter watched it for the first time last weekend. The sheer simplicity of this film still resonates strongly - and there are some killer lines that I still find myself using {I said 'good day' Sir! I said 'Good Day'} I love how 40 years hasn't dimmed these familiar faces - if Mike TeeVee were wearing a cowboy hat you'd recognise him straight away.

Bless.

wowee, it's wednesday?

Oh me oh my this year is speeding by. I kind of feel like I'm riding a bicycle, by pedalling backwards, while in the ocean, at the moment. So. Much. To. Do. Meal planning's saving my sanity as usual - so thank goodness I have that.

If only I had this dressing room to sit on that fabulous chair, my neck tickled by that glorious apricot number and ponder a while.

That's what I need. A little time to ponder a while {or at least synchronise all my dates so I don't keep double-booking myself - I did it TWICE yesterday. TWICE!}

Okay, off to breathe and write a to-do list.

macramé anyone?

As a child of the 70s I have very strong visions of the fashions of the time. From the olive green and burnt orange kitchens {ours was a rather fabbo red and white} to the flares, mateus rosé bottles with candles inserted for the romantic ambience to macramé hanging pot holders.

So these gave me quite the giggle. However, will I be shelling out one thousand, four hundred and thirty pounds {and fifty five pence} for these Proenza Shouler numbers?

Um, think not.

{Also, do you think that funny brush thingy at the back would tickle your calves while you walk?}

sunday suppers

Okay, I'm pretty sure that my best day for meal planning is a Sunday. That way I get to the shops and buy everything I need for the week ahead. Here's what's cooking this week:

Tonight: I have some mince in the fridge that hubby bought on friday on a two for $10 special. As I also have some white corn chips in the pantry, and loads of ripe tomatoes, I'll be making nachos for dinner. As I also have a cob of corn and some coriander, best serve it with a corn salsa...

Monday: My father-in-law dropped off a bag of lemons on friday - best make baked lemon chicken don't you think?

Tuesday: I have a standing rib roast that needs cooking. Complete with baked chats and roasted pumpkin and sweet potato and some greens.

Wednesday: I feel like making calzone. Should I? Salami should be one of the ingredients don't you think?

Thursday: Turkish lamb meatballs, salad and couscous.

Friday: Hubby's at a golf day all day - he'll need serious sustenance when he gets home - I'll do a chorizo pasta bake.

Saturday: I enjoyed last Saturday's bbq so much that I think I'd best do it again.

sweet, sweet saturday

Well, we were up-and-at-'em early this morning. My gal had her first tennis lesson at 9am, which now means we've got the whole day spread out before us. I'm trying to think of an excuse to head to Bunnings, due to an inexplicable sausage sandwich craving. Perhaps we need some more herbs to fill out the herb garden...

I do know that there will be some house cleaning in my future - those darned cleaning fairies have flown off to greener pastures apparently.

So, whatcha doin' this weekend?

blossoms for friday

Sorry I'm late with my post, I drove down to Sydney at 6am for a meeting, and got home around 6pm... Tired. So here's a shot through my blossom tree, with the dovecote in the background. Pretty isn't it?

Hope you have a lovely weekend x

nailed it

My hot-coral nails from Saturday night are looking a little worse for wear, so I'll need to update them. If only I had this gorgeous pearly white nail as seen at Chanel - touted to be next season's hot colour. {Oh, and the bag would just highlight it nicely wouldn't it?}

Love it when my email pings me with a message from Chanel - a bit of beauty always makes a day seem brighter don't you think?

Are you a toe or finger painter? My toes never, ever, EVER go naked, but my constant typing - and handwashing of vintage kitchen items {seriously, my 50s egg lift can't go in the dishwasher...} plays havoc with fingertips.

love is...

Another couple I love is Ellen Degeneres and Portia. Just look at this shot of their shoe closet taken from a series of images from their home featured in Architectural Digest.

Doesn't it just bring out the awwww bless!

just because...

It's always a good time for a little Audrey...

meal planning monday

Back to school - woooooo hoooooooooooooo! And don't worry, it's not just me doing a happy dance - it's my school-loving gal too. To celebrate, let's eat well this week shall we?

Monday: I've got some dory fillets that are begging to be served with oven fries and a green salad.

Tuesday: Ballet's back: so I should do pickled pork with mash, leftover cauliflower gratin from Sunday's roast dinner and wilted greens.

Wednesday: I have a big jar of fresh chicken stock thanks to Sunday night's roast chicken dinner {seriously, simmering the leftover chicken with onions, carrots and herbs for two hours results in the most amazing stock} so I'd best make a risotto. Chicken and crispy pancetta perhaps.

Thursday: Another night of late ballet - followed by tennis shoe shopping. Dinner at the shopping mall {I'm going to plug for Charlestown so I can see dumplings in my future}

Friday: My gal's been asking for salmon patties - best oblige. So simple, so healthy, so tasty.

Saturday: I really am going to bring out the bbq this weekend - I swear. Steaks - big, fat juicy ones and lotsa salad.

Sunday: Roast lamb this week, with the usual vegie suspects.

sweet sunday

Don't you love the morning after a great night out? We caught up with a fab group of friends last night in one of our friends' amazing new house {it's just perfection - I plan on sneaking over and moving into their sun-room - don't think they'll notice...} We had gorgeous food, lotsa champagne and lots of laughs. Don't you just love that?

So we're taking it slowly this morning {well, hubby's not - he's been up since 5am and ridden far too many kilometres - craziness}. My gal and I slept in, and now we're off to Coles to buy a few essentials and check out the new clothing range some of my fave bloggers have been raving about.

This afternoon will involve leisurely bike riding down to the tennis courts so the gal can have a few practice hits before she starts tennis lessons next weekend. A bit of gardening might also be involved. Bliss.

How's your weekend panning out?

delightfully dita

David Jones is launching the Dita Von Teese muse range in November. Squeeee!

Can you imagine? This divine collection is available in sizes 8 - 20 and contains in-built corsetry to get a Dita-esque waist.

Love!

Thanks to my friend Nikki for sending me the link xx

flowers for friday

Who doesn't need a bit of prettiness?

in memorium

I was hit hard by the news on twitter of Steve Jobs' passing.

I've been a Mac fan since the days of these little beauties above, and I've never wavered in my devotion. iPhone, iMac, MacBookAir, iPod, iPad, iPod Touch - all of these share our house. And then, if the creativity behind Apple weren't enough, Steve Jobs shared his genius with Pixar.

Innovative, excellent and a true genius. Steve Jobs you are missed and I'm shedding many tears in your memory. I may not have known you, but damn, do I admire you. Rest in peace.

ps: I saw a nice idea on Twitter: donate to research for pancreatic cancer in Steve Jobs' memory.

midnight in paris je t'aime

Not only did our travel agent get us a great price on our tickets OS {and that much-needed 32 kilo luggage allowance!} he also gave us a double pass to see Midnight In Paris. This new Woody Allen film is a love letter to my favourite city. The opening montage subtly caresses every beautiful centimetre of the city - and each shot is an homage to the city of lights.

I knew I'd walk out of it wanting to visit again, but watching it on the big screen had me aching to spend some more time there.

Great film, with the most exquisite cinematography I've seen in a while.

Besotted? Moi? Mais oui, oui, OUI.