parfait picnique

Oh, it's a beautiful day for a picnic. So my friend A and I are taking the kidlets along to the Alliance Francais Picnique and Petanque day. Bliss. Madeleines are about to be cooked, baguettes to be bought - and french cheese shopped-for en-route.

And there shall be no indulging in pastis thanks to a wee bit of overindulgence in the champagne last night {although it was all french so no hangover!}

I'm a wee bit scared about having to converse with anyone a la francaise - but I'll give it a shot. C'est bonne...

and relax...

All this picture needs is some pink champagne, bubbles - and me...

flowers for friday

Hi, sorry for the lack of posts yesterday - crazy busy. Eek!

But look, to make up for it here are some parrot tulips - cute!

what's cooking wednesday

You know what? I'm pretty sure that the one thing that keeps me sane is menu planning. Sure, I don't always follow it to the letter, but it stops the panicked "Oh my god, what are we going to have for dinner?" at 5pm. Here's what we'll be eating this week.

Wednesday: My gal has a netball clinic and shall be starvational upon return. I'm going to cook up a beef and cashew stir-fry with lots of noodles.

Thursday: My pal, the Divine Ms M, is up for the night. Best cook up something good. Provencal chicken always goes down a treat.

Friday: Off to my in-laws for dinner. My mother-in-law always cooks up something yummy.

Saturday: We're going to friends' for 'duck night'. They'll be cooking up duck confit, we'll be bringing matching champagne and a pudding. We do it french-style and buy something from a good patisserie.

Sunday: There shall be roast and it should be pork.

Monday: Lamb backstrap warm salad - with feta, mint, peas and a caramelised balsamic dressing.

Tuesday: French lessons {with the scariest task ever - and one we're getting marked on - sacré bleu!} Chicken curry in the slow cooker is the best option.

And that's it. Two cheaty meals out and lots of fun.

my little pile of awesome

To go with our new couches we've changed our living room around - tv on other side of room and everything. So that meant we had to move hundreds of CDs from tv in order to be able to lift it. And you know what that means - rediscovering old loves.

I was lucky enough to be a reviewer for a Music mag years ago - and oh, the CDs I have as a result... But we've barely made a dint in them when it comes to downloading them onto iTunes. So I've decided to pop a little pile of awesome onto my desk and when I have a second, I'll download a CD. Easy peasy. And oh yes, I'm rediscovering some fabulosity {including a Depeche Mode tribute featuring bands such as The Cure and Rammstein - awesome incorporated}.

Say ahhhhhhh.

all grown-up

I've spent quite a few years wondering when I'd hit that mythical moment that I'd feel like a 'grown-up'. It wasn't with my first mortgage, baby, or even marriage. Even my first brand-new grown-up car didn't help. A thumping great backyard renovation didn't nudge me into grown-up territory - nor did my 40th birthday! But now, I think I've cracked it.

In the past week we've finally succumbed to family health insurance, we have Foxtel IQ and two matching proper grown-up lounges. With a matching new rug and everything.

Mmmhm, all grown up now.

it's pancake day

It's pancake day so we'll be firing up the KitchenAid for breakfast this morning - and using my new crepe pan that I bought at Aldi the other day {I have ALWAYS wanted a crepe pan - and for $6 who wouldn't snap one up?}.

It's a big day in our house today. We're getting the new couches delivered {hurrah!} and also we're finally having Foxtel IQ installed {finally!}. I can't wait to show you some photos, of the couches, probably not the IQ...

* Those pale macaron pink pancakes are ours - pretty non? And probably more sensible for a before-school breakfast than those fabulous rainbow numbers!

a shoe story

The only thing I love more than finding a cute pair of shoes is when the discovery of said shoes comes about fortuitously. Take my newest find for example. Yep, that's them, in the dodgy phone pic {with a bit of my study carpet underneath}. But even though the quality of the image is poor their attributes shine out. They are the wedge of the kitten heel world, something that I thought was a myth - a shoe with the height of the kitten heel, but the ease of walking that the wedge provides. Lovely! And have you ever seen a more Chanel-esque combination of black straps and white leather camelia? I know! So, the shoe, already perfection non?

Now, here's the story. Driving back from Beth's the weekend before last we had to stop off in Bowral so I could buy my gal a wee pressie. But, while we were there I quickly swerved into a park right outside my fave story in the Southern Highlands - Dirty Jane's Emorium {what's not to love with a name like that right?} This shop is awesome, well worth a day trip from Sydney - or even Newcastle actually... Anywhooo. Dirty Janes now has a whole separate shop, filled with different stalls all selling the most covetable goodies. In one I bought a gorgeous fabric loveheart in a frame for my gal, and in another, I spied my pretty shoes. Yep, one pair, in a vintage store, in my size, after a kick-ass memorable weekend.

They were mine in a moment.

And now, every time I wear them I'll think of my fab gal's weekend and smile.

ouch

The lateness of today's post is proudly brought to you by my hangover...

Yes, one too many champagnes may have been consumed. However, there was a spectacular win on a horsey who just happened to be wearing hot pink legwarmers {or ankle-strapping - whatevs...}. Much fun was had, and now, a nap must be had.

Hope you've enjoyed your weekend.

and they're racing

So, I'm off to the races today. It's a deliciously mild day, with an expected high of 21 degrees. Nice. I still haven't quite decided what I'm wearing - but I do have fabulous red nails {Chanel: Pirate} and I'm having a good hair day. Perfect start.

Wish me luck!

i'll have what she's having...

Look at this shot Dita Von Teese uploaded onto her Twitter feed the other day. Cocktails at Bar Hemmingway in Paris. {And would you LOOK at that clutch!}

Parfait.

wife swap

I have a new addiction. Of course it's a reality tv program... Wife Swap.

See, I'd always ignored it, thinking it was just confrontational and sensationalist, but after accidentally stumbling upon an episode of the UK series I'm hooked.

You know the drill, two wives, swap lives and live with each other's families. First, they live by the family's current rules then it's game on and the family's live by the new mum's rules. It's been interesting to watch the dynamic. Mainly because, in general, we always think that our way's the right way - don't we? Otherwise why do it? But it's interesting to see how the family's come around. Of course they've chosen extremes, and of course they put women with opposing views into different families, but it just illustrates how well 'everything in moderation' works.

There is no right way. Just lots of things that if taken on and cherished, can work out well.

Of course it also illustrates how hard we do have to work at life: marriage, parenting, working, looking after a house. But that we do need to strive to find our balance.

I know that after watching this show there are a few things that I'd like to do differently. I know I have to ensure that I always dedicate specific time every day to actively 'play' with my daughter - not sitting watching a tv show with her {laptop on my lap, working...} not just supervising homework - but getting in and actually doing something with her. Luckily kids are happy with these short, sharp moments. Fifteen minutes or so of dedicated playing with them means that you get that much longed-for time when they're happy to play by themselves.

Relationship-wise, well, hubby and I need to regularly switch off the computer and just chat. Over dinner, before bed - whenever. It'll take dedication {and not writing posts like this at 11pm to schedule for the next day...} but it's worth it.

Prioritising. That's what life's all about. I'm going to be like these mums on Wife Swap and consider my priorities and get them straight.

what's cooking wednesday

No, sadly, this amazing red velvet wedding cake I stumbled upon over at Martha's isn't on my menu this week - but oh, I wish it were. Prettiness! Instead, we're eating this:

Tonight: netball fitness training followed by umpiring for my gal. I'm celebrating the first proper day of Autumn with seven hour leg of lamb with roasted vegies. Mmmmmm.

Thursday: We'll be having steak and salad I think.

Friday: Hubby's out with some friends {I swear we do go out together!} so my gal and I will have pasta with chicken and chorizo.

Saturday: We're off to the races! Woo hoo. And afterwards heading to our friends' for some food. Yipppeee!

Sunday: Chances are I'll be recovering from champagne overload. Roast chicken dinner sounds suitably chaste.

Monday: Lamb backstraps, braised lentils, roasted carrots and green beans.

Tuesday: French lessons: slow cooker curry and rice.

And that's all folks...

even deeper...

Now I've seen this I love Helena even more.

I know, it's verging on obsession!

the big o!

Looks I luuuuuuuuurve on the Oscar's red carpet.

that's better...

There are some things in life that you just need to do - and girly catch-ups are one of them. After an incredibly fabulous weekend {it's okay, this is my final mention...} I feel so refreshed and so much happier.

I still continue to be amazed at how much you can have in common with people you meet via blogging. Although really, it makes total sense. Reading blogs is the best insight into so many aspects of a person - it's much easier to get a complete picture of a blogger than someone who meet up with every now and again in real life.

I'm so happy I started blogging three years ago - and that you guys started blogging as well. It's given me the opportunity to 'meet' some amazing people.

So, hands-up who's up for the next catch-up?

red hot

They've written an article about me over at Jezebel...

flowers for friday

Mmmmm, lilacs - just one of my favourite flowers. But the only time I get to experience them is when I visit the Southern Highlands - which I don't mind as it gives me an excuse to visit one of my favourite parts of the world. The gorgeous flowers are just one of the things I love so much about the region. It's such a special place.

But you know what makes visiting one of your favourite parts of the world even better? Catching up with some of your favourite people in the world - that's what. So this weekend I sure will be counting my blessings as I visit my favourite village in Australia and catch up with two of my favourite bloggers, and now good friends.

Lucky, lucky, lucky me.

house work

I've written a lot of articles over the years about organisation, staying stress-free, finding focus etc and I do try to always put some of the advice the experts have offered into action. It doesn't always work of course - so many times I find myself on auto-pilot just doing the craziest of things. But I'm not letting it bother me, I'm just going to give myself a firm talking to - and get back on track.

I have been busy lately, more so than I've ever been. And yet, things are going okay. We've eaten tasty, healthy meals, my daughter's been organised for school and the house is decent enough - not fabulous - but decent enough. You know, floors are clean, so are sheets, towels, surfaces etc...

My new aim is to treat any cleaning like I would any work. Allocate time to it and do it one task at a time. I'm also doing that with exercise. On the days my husband doesn't ride his bike {those very, very rare days...} I'm going to get up early and go for a walk or a ride. I did it this morning and feel just fabulous.

I'm prioritising health, happiness and getting this done. That sounds like a plan doesn't it?

playing dress-ups

There are a few events on my horizon that require frocking up. Tomorrow night I'm off to dinner with my old friends and workmates, Saturday night I have a fabulous catch-up and next weekend we're off to the races. But here's the dilemma - I hate shopping.

So I'm hoping to go with fabulous accessories a la Lea Michelle's gorgeous lips and incredible shoes at the Grammys. Glossy hair, a popping lip colour and great shoes can overshadow a much-worn outfit non?

{That said, I'm sooooooo in love with this frock - perfection}