fleur délice

#2

2011-06-28T12:37:00.007+10:00

Take it easy on yourself. Watch something good on telly, snuggled in a doona. My picks:

- Twin Peaks. Take advice from Agent Cooper: "Harry, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just...let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee."
I'll take mine with milk, and I'll only have one, but yes, a cup of good, hot coffee is just the ticket right about now.

- Six Feet Under. If you've already seen it, watch it again and feel like you're hanging out with old, dysfunctional friends. If you haven't seen it, the characters have some incredibly fucked-up things happen to them, so take solace in the fact that you're probably not as unlucky as they are (and that you're not dating Billy).

- Something amusing. I like silliness in my humour. My favourite shows of this ilk are Arrested Development, 30 Rock and Flight of the Conchords. Be relieved that you do not have a mother like Lucille Bluth, the self-esteem of Jenna or the, well, lacklustre career of Bret and Jemaine.

- If you are in need of something more uplifting, I recommend the movies of Hayao Miyazaki. Totoro is cute, Spirited Away is darkly whimsical, Princess Mononoke is just incredibly beautiful.

- Oh! Oh! And my favourite movie of all time, one that NEVER fails to make me smile madly. Tilsammens, a Swedish movie by the marvellous Lucas Moodysson, perfect for all the tree-hugging commies out there ;-) The music is great and the threads (when they're wearing them) are even better.

Happy watching!

PS: What are your favourite things to watch when you're in need of either escapism or cheering up?

#1

2011-06-27T21:08:00.005+10:00

If you happen to have procreated and made a lovely wee doppelganger, take solace in this wondrous, hilarious little person.

Try very hard not to let them see you cry. Otherwise, they will say things like "Oh darling, s'okay", "You my best friend, Mummy!", or "My love you so much, not be sad, Mummy", while patting your back affectionately, and make you cry even harder, and then make you feel terrified that you have done terrible, irreversible damage to their little soul.

However, this is most definitely not the time to beat yourself up. Assure yourself that you will do better, and do better.

Look at blissful photos of the two of you. Be sure to take more.

Indulge in a ridiculously large amount of cuddles. Rejoice in the fact that you can now have your little one fall asleep in bed next to you, with you listening to their amusing old-man snores and whimsical sleep-talking, without your as-yet childless boyfriend telling you that "she needs to learn about boundaries, she's too old to still be in your bed." Pfffft.

Broken

2011-06-27T20:39:00.007+10:00

Last year, in about August, my baby's father and I decided to go our separate ways. It seemed pretty mutual - things hadn't been great for about a year, although we'd soldiered on and tried counselling and going on dates and all that.. But, in the end, we both felt as though we deserved more than we each could give, and so he moved out.

A few weeks later, I forced myself to stop moping and go out to a friend's party. I was standing inside, talking with a friend, and a guy next to me introduced himself. There was something endearing about the way he came right out and said it, it made me giggle. And from there, we became virtually inseparable.

After a week, we declared our love for each other. He said that he wanted me as his wife, that he wanted us to have siblings for my little girl. I couldn't believe that I'd been so lucky as to find the perfect person for me, someone who wanted everything that I wanted, and so soon after my last relationship had failed.

The timing was a bit off, a bit too soon. And I began to notice his insecurities, and how sometimes his manner with other people made me uncomfortable. That I felt criticised, unnecessarily and often. That the way he talked himself up made me cringe. But I made excuses - when he was insecure, I'd make extra effort to let him know I loved him. When he criticised me, I thought it would be good, that I'd keep myself at a high standard and not let myself slack off. That when he bragged about all manner of insignificant things, it was just his insecurities coming out, and that it was my place as his girlfriend to assure him of his worth, and, as always, that I loved him.

I finally broke it off last weekend. I was determined to wait until after his birthday on Thursday - I wanted to go about it with as much dignity and kindness as I could muster. After 9 months of being criticised, undermined, treated as a hobby, ignored, yelled at and told that I am too moody and too depressed, I have never in my life doubted myself as much as I do right now.

Well - slowly, slowly I'm doubting myself a little less. If I can choose what is best for myself and my darling girl, if I can see that we were being taken for granted and that I can do better for us, that gives me a little bit of respite. Even though, by some stupid law of nature that goes directly against any kind of logic, I feel as though my heart has been ripped out and torn to shreds. And then stomped on and eaten and puked out and stomped on again.

I'm not sure how long I'm going to feel like this, but it might be for a little while yet. In which case, I am going to record my own little "How to get over a broken heart" ideas. Just in case this sort of hideousness happens to me again, or in the event that the steps I'm taking will give somebody else a bit of respite from being stuck under the crappy Cloud of Love Gone Wrong.

It girl

2011-06-06T20:04:00.001+10:00

I have a bag named after me! Hehe:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/COUNTRY-ROAD-IRIS-POSTMAN-LEATHER-SATCHEL-NEW-/150614772376?pt=AU_Women_Bags_Handbags&hash=item2311570a98

I know, I know, I should have my nose in a textbook instead of sniffing for cute bags on eBay...

Hi!-atus

2011-05-27T15:03:00.004+10:00

Hello again to the blogging world!

This is just a quick little hello. It's also me procrastinating expertly - I started my DipEd back in February, and I hardly have time to breathe, let alone blog.

Although I've resolutely made sure to spend lots and lots of time with Baboushka. She's now two-and-a-bit, and so smart and funny and bright and absolutely gorrrgeous.

I've been missing blogging a lot lately, so I'll see how I go and hopefully get back into it. And, I mean, all of the op-shop treasures I've scored in the last year? It'd be a crime not to share them ;-)

I hope you're all well!

Love Iris x

Baboushka's Birthday pt.2

2010-02-16T19:12:00.007+11:00

Uh-huh, there's more. The weekend after little Bushki's birthday we had a big party for her down at my mum's place in Kiama. I cooked like a mad woman, overcompensated as I tend to do (we're still trying to finish a giant wheel of Brie and one of those big Toblerones), and Baboushka had a blast. So, er.. more photos!

Here's my grandmother with her three great-grandchildren. How incredible must that be, to know that, essentially, you're responsible for 3 generations? Three. Entire. Generations. It boggles my mind. I'm looking forward to grandmotherhood :-)

Bushki and her Unkie Dave.

We'd been trying to teach her to blow out her candles - she whistles and plays Pat's old school recorder, but no dice with candles.

Oh, and I found my dress at Salvos - a sixties Hawaiian barkcloth number for $7! Score!

Aw, here she is with Nanny and Grandpa.

And having some walking practice with her papa. She's taking steps, but not proper walking yet, unless someone is holding her hand.

Phew! Last one. She was so so so tired at the end of the party, but in true Bushki fashion she remained stoic and awake to wave off every last guest.

PS: Promise my next post will contain something other than copious pictures of my wee lady ;-)

Baboushka's Birthday

2010-02-16T16:24:00.003+11:00

I've been meaning to share some photos of my little gumnut's birthday for a while now. I felt like a giant dork taking the camera everywhere, but I reasoned that it's the kind of thing she may well appreciate when she's older. And it's the blogging thing to do, right?

Her Unkie Mont was down from Brisbane for a couple of days, it was lovely to have him around (not least because he carried her everywhere).

She's incredibly fond of her crazy, giant uncles. I suspect she's going to grow up with a unique (read: warped) sense of humour if they have anything to do with it.

We had lunch at Bento, a teeny-weeny sushi place and one of our favourite haunts. $8 for miso, vegetable sushi, pancake and potatoes. Ridiculous and awesome. Baboushka had an enormous bowl of avocado and rice.

Then Pat and I took her out to another favourite place of eating, a Greek restaurant with fantastic skordalia, melitzanosalata and vegetable moussaka.

Needless to say, we had a couple of interesting nappies the next day...

7

2010-02-02T09:06:00.005+11:00

Okay, I need to come up with seven things about myself that are interesting, as dear Megs from Box of Tricks has tagged me. She is having her baby today (!), so, you know, it's the least I can do ;-)

1) I married my French boyfriend when I was 22, and we broke up a year later. We're still married - we just haven't gotten around to organising the end of it, yet.

2) I am petrified of spider wasps. You know the big, black ones with bright orange wings that like to drag huntsman spiders around? I have nightmares that I am the huntsman spider, and that I end my days paralysed and eaten from the inside by spider wasp larvae.

3) I have had postnatal depression for about six months now, and I'm bumbling my way through various avenues to (hopefully) find a way to fix it. I'm extremely grateful that, as awful as it can get sometimes, it hasn't affected the way I feel about my little girl. And I probably won't write much more about it here - blogging is a bit of an escape, a 'happy place', if you will. But I'm also becoming more comfortable with being open about it.

4) Speaking of that little sprite, I thought I might clarify, just in case: Baboushka is her nickname. Aussie rhyming-slang and all that. I wouldn't really be so mean as to rob her of her youth by giving her the russian word for 'grandmother' as her name ;-)

5) I love clothes. I could even go as far as to say that I'm obsessed. Sometimes, when I'm having a cup of tea and reading blogs late at night, I'll put on one of my favourite op-shop scores - a sequinned 50s shell top, a vintage silk kimono - and just sit and feel generally excited.

6) Actually, maybe it's more the op-shop thing that I'm obsessed with. The clothes part is always good, but I feel the same about my thrifted teapots that will never serve any purpose other than to look beautiful. When I'm not wearing inappropriately glamourous clothes in front of the computer late at night, you'll find me taking photos of the aforementioned teapots, or composing love poems to Grindley sandwich plates.

7) The place that you won't find me late at night is in bed, asleep. It doesn't matter how early I wake up, I find I really have to force myself to go to bed. There's something about the witching hour that fills me with creativity and motivation. It's kind of annoying, but better to have it at midnight than not to have it at all :-)

Ahh, I won't tag anyone in particular, I'm very non-committal when it comes to tagging! But please tag yourself if you are so inclined!

Happy Birthday!

2010-01-28T11:53:00.003+11:00

To my little sweet-pea, Happy Birthday for yesterday! I can't believe you are already 1 :-)

lilac wine

2010-01-04T13:18:00.003+11:00

I don't tend to wear much purple - it was my favourite colour as a kid and I think I wore so much of it then that I'm still wary of it.

I've been half-heartedly going through my clothes and trying to get rid of some. It's ridiculous how much stuff I actually have, given that I only wear about 3 things (shorts, t-shirts and thongs in summer; jeans, long-sleeved tees and cowboy boot in winter). I came across this rad tutorial the other day that explains how to make kids' pants from old t-shirts, so I've been sorting through everything I don't wear anymore to make pants for my own little creepy-crawly (well, not so much creepy, but very, very crawly). I was about to cut up this old Bonds tee, but I loved the colour so much I stopped myself.

I bought a bunch of these tees last summer when I was heavily with child, and the thin cotton made them perfect for the 30-plus days. Now, of course, they're all stretched in the belly area, so I kind of hiked it up with a little badge to avoid the pouchy thing that was happening. Maybe I can take them in and get some more wear out of them? Or maybe they'll end up on Baboushka ;-)

(purple tee: Bonds
long-sleeved tee: also Bonds
badge: Milk Thieves
skirt: thrifted
boots: men's cowboys, eBay)

La Cigale

2009-12-30T19:18:00.005+11:00

Sorry for the intermission! I blame yuletide and its accompanying craziness. We had about a hundred things on before December 25th and everything, coupled with faltering technology, not to mention thwarting the plans of possibly the cheekiest baby on the planet (lucky she's also one of the sweetest ;-)), has meant that, you know, I've been a big lame-O.

However, I did remember to take that photo. Here it is:

Baboushka and I went down to Jervis Bay that weekend for some q-time with my dad, who'd been away in Adelaide. We had a lovely weekend, despite both of us being under the weather. Poor little Babs had a nasty ear infection (which I didn't know about until I took her to the doctor the next week) and managed to soldier on regardless.

These were the runners-up for the Point + Shoot activity:

Peas in a pod, those two ;-)

Point + Shoot

2009-12-04T10:57:00.007+11:00

One of my favourite bloggers, Chantelle of the brilliant fat mum slim, has had the inspired idea to make a game she's called 'Point + Shoot'. This Sunday (6th December) is the day to take photos, many or just one, of whatever you happen to be doing that day, and then post about it on Monday. I'll be down at Jervis Bay, hanging out with Baboushka and my dad, sewing bags with my mum and hopefully getting some swimming lessons in.

I tried to get started on a similar, slightly more ambitious project a few months back. The plan was to take a photo every day, of anything at all, and post it up at my Flickr account. It was flawed from the beginning, as I was posting the photos in chunks (having the time each day to transfer photos from the camera, resize them and then upload them was not very realistic). Then our computer kicked the bucket, and all the photos I'd been taking so diligently each day are currently stored elsewhere. The idea of finding them and continuing with my little project gave me a bit of a brain hernia, so I abandoned it. Ah, blithe abandonement. Where would I be without you?

Anyhoo, back to whatever vague sort of post I was stringing together. Ah, yes. My ill-fated photo project and this weekend. I can actually make a not-so-tenuous link between the two! Above is one of my 'Photo-A-Day' photos of (a very small percentage of) the material I'll take with me to make into shoulder bags, using Amy Butler's 'Birdie Sling' pattern. I am eagerly excited to be finally making my way through the acres of material I've been amassing over the last year or so, while my mind has been bubbling away with sewing ideas that I haven't had time to realise. Never mind that I haven't touched a sewing machine since high school. I figure, the more hideous the result, the better the blog fodder ;-)

The Penguins of Madagascar

2009-12-04T09:29:00.006+11:00

I'm sorry for the slackness! I remember marvelling at how much my baby took up my time when she was a tiny little newborn. How little I knew. Now she's getting about with alarming speed, intense curiosity and a determination to test out EVERYTHING by shoving it in her mouth. Including her entire fist. Anyways...

What better way to find the motivation to blog than to do one of these tagging larks? I stumbled across this one over at Lovely Laurel's Ooh La La Vintage. Check out her radical red boots (and the rest of her fabulous wardobe!).

1.Where is your phone? Floating somewhere in the ether.
2.Your hair? Gloriously short. Probably not short enough.
3.Your Mother? Pottering around her boatshed.
4.Your Father? On his flight home after 5 weeks away. Very much looking forward to seeing him!
5.Your favourite food? Soup.
6.Your dream last night? About a mythical fellow blogger who was a former magazine editor who had a change of heart and became a 'mommy blogger' and swapped her Louboutins for tracksuit pants. Sounds like a lame movie.
7.Your favourite drink? Earl Grey.
8.Your dream/goal? To live overseas, get my PhD, have a happy daughter :-)
9.What room are you in? The room with the computer, the wardrobes and the too many toys.
10.Your hobbie? Baking, drawing, reading, swimming.
11.Your fear? Being reincarnated as a huntsman spider and ending my days in the lair of a parasitic wasp.
(12. is missing)
13.Where were you last night? At home, watching Twin Peaks and eating chocolate-covered almonds.
14.Something that you’re not? A skilled mathematician.
15.Muffins? Rhubarb.
16.Wishlist item? See future post.
17.Where did you grow up? The south coast of NSW.
18.Last thing you did? Had breakfast with my little lady.
19.What are you wearing? Jeans and an old grey t-shirt.
20.Your TV? Has been playing Twin Peaks a little obsessively the last few days.
21.Your pets? A kitty named Daisy.
22.Friends? Mostly scattered across the globe. I miss them enormously.
23.Your life? No complaints :-)
24.Your mood? Jubilant.
25.Missing someone? See 22.
26.Vehicle? A pram.
27.Something you’re not wearing? Glasses (to my chagrin).
28.Your favourite store? The Auburn St Antique Centre.
29. Your Favourite colour? Turquoise
30.When was the last time you laughed? This morning.
31.The last time you cried? Tuesday.
32.Your best friend? Is in Spain.
33.One place that I go to over and over? The Uni, even though I'm not currently enrolled. Nice coffee and comfy chairs in the library :-)
34.Facebook? It happens.
35.Favourite place to eat? Bento in town or Fireworks Cafe in Austinmer.

Anyone who would like to be, consider yourself tagged!

Chopping Spree

2009-11-16T12:42:00.012+11:00

Sometimes I feel as though I should not be allowed near scissors. Particularly when I'm feeling restless with my hair.

I had vague thoughts of shaving it all off next year for the Greatest Shave, which I thought would be all the more impressive if it was quite long. And, typically, if I feel bound to something I turn and flee in the opposite direction. I couldn't even wait for my hairdresser friend to do it properly, so I hacked it off while my brother T-Bone held a mirror.

The (radically uneven) result:

The bob only lasted a week - it needed a blowdry to look halfway decent, and of course there was the issue of unevenness. I'd been itching to go all gamine and Jean Seberg*, but at the last minute I lost my nerve and went for something a tad longer. It's times like these that I am profusely glad to be living in The Age Of The Internet**, as it makes spying on girls with cute hair so much easier. I picked Argentinian model Milagros Schmoll as my hair idol:

Despite fears that I would resemble a clunky milkmaid next to her exotic, rake-thin boyishness, it didn't turn out too badly. And, might I add, WHY HAVEN"T I CUT MY HAIR THIS SHORT BEFORE?! The ease with which I can wash, dry and artfully manipulate my newly-docile tresses is luxurious.

(Apologies for the poor choice of facebook photo. Oh dear.)

*actually, I may go shorter still - I'm more than a little obsessed with La Seberg.

**to be honest, I can't really think of any occasion where I have been unhappy with The Age Of The Internet.

Italia Mia

2009-11-10T09:35:00.006+11:00

Ah, Gina Lollobrigida. It's been a while since I thrifted any books, but when I was out gallavanting the other day, I couldn't resist bringing this one home. My original plan was to cut out some of the pictures and use them for collages, but I feel so sacreligious when I do that I'm not sure if I'll be able to bring myself to do it.

But how gorgeous is the italiana in the second-last picture? She reminds me of a Tretchikoff, or a J.H Lynch. I'd much rather cut her out and put her in a nice frame than leave her trapped in a book...

9 months

2009-10-27T13:59:00.003+11:00

I remember, back when I was drifting about in a sleepy, milk-scented fog and everything about being a mother was brand new (and daunting, to say the least!), 9 months seemed like it was eons away. And yet, here we are, with crawling and size 1 onesies (!) and mashed vegetables and two adorable little toothypegs, and it feels like no time has elapsed at all.

And, I forgot to mention, pulling herself up with every stick of furniture in the house, and ignoring toys and baby-safe items in favour of anything and everything that is not. Like my knitting needles. Gotta run!

Bedlam

2009-10-27T00:06:00.002+11:00

boudoir
Originally uploaded by fleur_delice

This bedspread is a recent op-shop gem - I've been vaguely admiring pretty gold and pink ones that seem to be popping up on 'interiors' blogs lately, so I was pretty darned excited to find this one in my favourite deep turquoise colour. Salvo's has gone back to the '$10 linen bag' deal, i.e. you can fill an enormous garbage bag with as much stuff from the linen corner as you want for no more than $10. Thank goodness, as they've started charging insanely high amounts for everything else (today I saw a lamp for $100 and a vintage dress for $80. Clearly Salvo's is having an identity crisis and thinks it's an upmarket retro boutique).

I feel like I've been such a lame blogger lately. Our computer conked out a few days ago, and the laptop Pat hooked up to my screen doesn't have any of my photos on file. However, I was able to work out (a mighty feat, for someone with my severe lack of computer dexterity) that I can actually blog from my Flickr account! I may never even go back to my old ways...

PS: more apologies, the awful title puns are continuing.

Beets me!

2009-10-17T19:50:00.007+11:00

So. I've decided to start posting the worst titles for my posts that I can possibly think of. Life is short and puns are one of my favourite things ever. Dad joke-style puns are even better. You are most welcome to pipe up with your own suggestions, as mine are likely to range from fairly crap to downright awful (although I suppose that's the point).

Anyhoo, the beets that today's title pertains to that most delightful of vegetable, silverbeet. Also known as Swiss chard, spinach beet, seakale beet and mangold. They're currently in season, and although we have a good little crop growing in the backyard, I've also been buying massive bunches at the fruit market for 78c. Because I use that much of it (kinda like this guy).

Tonight I'm using it in a risotto - something I've taken the liberty of giving the exotic name of 'Risotto Primavera', la-dee-da. But as it is a work in progress and I haven't a photo, I'll post the recipe for my previous silverbeet adventure:

Palak Paneer:
(Serves 5-6)

1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground coriander (these first two are optional - I've neglected to use them before and it's been fine)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoons ghee or oil
2 large bunches of spinach, washed, trimmed, steamed, drained and finely chopped
4 tablespoons sour cream
fresh homemade curd cheese (paneer) made from 3 litres milk, cut into 1.25 cm cubes
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon salt

1) Combine the ginger and chili in a food processor or blender and process with a few spoons of cold water. Add the coriander, paprika, cumin, and turmeric and blend to form a smooth spice paste. Scrape the paste into a bowl.

2) Heat the ghee in a large saucepan over moderate heat. When the ghee is hot, add the spice paste, and fry it for 1 or 2 minutes or until very fragrant. Fold in the spinach, combining it with the spices.

3) Cook over moderate heat for about 5 more minutes, or until the spinach reduces a little more in volume. (The spinach can be blended with the sour cream, but I prefer it left this way. And I'm lazy.)

4) Fold in the sour cream; add the cubes of paneer, the garam masala, and the salt. Cook over low heat for an additional 5 minutes and serve hot, with basmati rice.

*n.b. I made some channa dahl to go with it the other night, when we had friends over for dinner, and we had rosewater-scented halva for dessert. Good mix.

(recipe adapted from Kurma Dasa's 'World Food')

Feeling a bit damp

2009-10-17T18:46:00.003+11:00

Or rather I was feeling a bit damp, after more than two weeks of fairly solid rain. Not that I'm against rain (and it was most welcome after our recent monster dust storm), but I only like it for so long, and then I get a bit cagey, which in turn makes me cranky.

And I didn't want to be a big ol' cranky blogger. So here are some pretty pictures instead - it pretty much sums up what I do when trapped inside by the rain, baking and tea. And finding cute teapots at the op-shop ;-)

Sweet holy mother of the thrift gods!

2009-10-02T15:29:00.008+10:00

The laws of op-shopping have been confounding me lately. It seems that every time I am in the presence of a fellow thrifter and the conversation steers to our mutually-loved pastime, I bemoan the current lack of decent clothing (heck, I've even done it here!) and then get nostalgic for 'the good old days' where I could snatch up silk smoking jackets and geometric shift dresses for under $5, and where Miller's Fashion Club was a mere lurking presence rather than the evil behemoth we now know it to be.

However, it would appear that my laments have had the opposite effect to that which I would have expected. Instead of being brutally smote for my lack of faith, I am being rewarded with some sweet finds...

In town with my little bro T-Bone last week, we ducked into one of our preferred secondhand haunts so that he could look for shirts. Idly sifting through the dresses while he was in the change room, I realised that there was some potential on that thar rack. Several hurried clothing changes later, I emerged with these four dresses:

(Someone woke up mid-photo-shoot)

I nearly lost my lunch when I realised what a gem that last one is. It looks as though it's been handmade, and someone has done the most beautiful job of it, lining it and all.

And the print, my word, that print! Very Temple of the Sun (have I been making Baboushka watch Tintin so that I can watch it too? Yes. Yes I have). I think I have found my life's mission - to discover the maker of that fabric. If anyone knows how I could do this, I will be eternally grateful and (may even rustle up a present of some kind... if, you know, the thrift gods are feeling benevolent).

Flickr

2009-10-02T09:53:00.005+10:00

Sorry for the slack posting, my dears - it would appear that I've been two-timing my blog with Flickr. Oh, new and innovative ways to lure me to the computer ;-)

I'm going to attempt to juggle the two. Along with chasing after Baboushka - even though she hasn't yet mastered crawling, she gets around quite well. The other day I left the room and returned, only to discover that she'd manoeuvred herself backwards and under the sofa. Bad mummy.

She's also taken to making her way over to the bookcase and taking books out, and we had a bit of carnage yesterday. She ripped her first page out (a milestone?) of 'The Monster at the End of This Book', one of my own childhood favourites. Luckily this book managed to avoid the same fate:

What the heck is with this wind?

2009-09-26T22:18:00.006+10:00

I am beginning to wish that our toilet wasn't outside. One of my favourite stories of my grandmother's involves a particularly windy day, and her elderly father having the outside dunny literally blow off him, mid-...er, ablutions. I'm trying not to think of waterfalls.

My two lovebugs have got the right idea - they've been snuggled up and asleep since 6:30pm (4 hours ago). Leaving me to peruse the Intermanets uninterrupted, a rare bliss indeed. The Explorer socks are out in force, I had oatmeal for dinner, I discovered that B52's tickets are $100 (d'oh) and I've fallen for these two blogs:

The Little House By The Sea

and Thrift Candy.
Oh, to be in a floral dress in a sun-filled, un-windy garden.

Speaking of wind, I just had a thought: I wonder if the French words vent (wind) and ventre (stomach) are etymologically related? Because, the stomach is part of the digestive system, and when one has 'wind'...ah, you know what I'm getting at.

Yet another project to add to my list...

2009-09-25T13:44:00.010+10:00

This is Michelle Jank. Sigh. She's just gorgeous, no?

And talented, too. In my quest to find lovely ladies who emulate my idea of 'Art-teacher Chic', she was one of the first few who popped into my head. Yep, sorry guys, but I have a feeling I'm going to go on about this idea (henceforth referred to as ATC) ad nauseum ;-)

Her clothes are lovely (anyone remember this amazing dress?), but it's her own personal style and her amazing jewellery that I adore the most.

I'm going to have a go at making a similar floral neck piece - this pink one is gorgeous, but I'm not a big pink-wearer, so I'm looking for flowers in greens and blues instead.

Isn't this one heavenly?

(First image from here; second two are from the Sart, and the last two from here)

Question: how does one find the time to both maintain a blog while reading the blogs of other people?

2009-09-24T17:23:00.004+10:00

I think I've found my answer: by writing about the other blogs! Some days I'll go from blog to blog and end up at a particularly great one, and not remember where I started or know how I got there...

Anyways, here's one I managed to stumble upon: The Catskill Kiwi. I love how she combines gorgeous photos with rad-looking recipes. The Brown Sugar Cookie recipe looks particularly enchanting.

(Image from The Catskill Kiwi)

Art-teacher Chic

2009-09-23T14:30:00.007+10:00

Okay, I'm coining it before anyone else does. We've had some verging-on-the-ridiculous prefixes to 'chic' in the past (Recession-chic? Military-chic? Homeless-chic?!), so I'm just throwin' it out there.

What is this 'Art-teacher Chic' I speak of? Well, er, it's what I would use to answer the question, "how would you describe your style?", which, now that I have an answer for it, I doubt I'll ever be asked. But you know what I'm on about, surely - those style-related questionnaires that also ask, "What was your last purchase?" and "If you could take just 3 items of clothing to a deserted island, what would you take?", etc.

(Chances are I wouldn't take bright turquoise tights. Maybe garments made of soy fibre or some such, so I could eat them.)

Invariably, they ask you to describe your own style, and I'm stumped. Bookish-Hammer-pant-wearer? It's-laundry-day-and-all-I-have-is-this-Deniliquin-tshirt? But now I have it. Despite the fact that I'm not an art teacher, or any kind of teacher (yet), I think my bird's-nest topknot, mismatched op-shop booty and penchant for bright Pantone-esque hues would be quite at home in a paint-splattered classroom.

(These shoes are one of about three pairs I've managed to find in an op-shop, like, and which actually fit. They are mens', of course. Damned ogre-feet.)

Soup-y goodness

2009-09-22T19:21:00.006+10:00

I've been on a bit of a healthy-eating kick these last few days, and I'm going to credit Chantelle and her Operation: fat mum slim. I've been following her progress in an effort to get motivated on my own undertaking - a bid to stop going to bed so darned late and thus getting more sleep - and it looks like the healthy eating part is rubbing off!

Maybe it's because Baboushka has been settled into a good routine for a while, it could be the warmer weather, or my loathing of pre-packaged goods... or maybe I've just missed spending q-time in the kitchen. Whatever it is, I've been struck by an incurable desire to make food - lots of good, simple food - and as much of it from scratch as possible.

Yesterday evening I whipped up two batches of a long-time favourite, Jamie Oliver's amusingly-named Pukkolla (one for storing in a big ol' jar, one for making up for more immediate consumption). I located a recipe here, and particularly enjoyed getting out my much-loved-but-not-often-enough-used mortar and pestle and giving the almonds a bit of a bash. Waking up this morning to such a ridiculously easy and downright delicious breakfast made me wonder why the hell I haven't been making this stuff more often. Note to self: buy fresh blueberries for tomorrow's bowlful.

Then tonight, I've been making a big potful of vegetable and lentil soup. The balmy, sticky, afternoon storm we've just had doesn't reeeally lend itself to soup... but I eat soup like I drink tea (i.e., any darned time regardless of current meteorological conditions). Here's a not-particularly-precise recipe:

Vegetable & Lentil Soup That Will Make You Feel Like A Skillful Italian Nonna:

Ingredients:

olive oil
1 large brown onion, chopped finely
2 carrots, chopped finely
1/2 bunch celery, chopped finely
1 or 2 leeks, sliced (optional)
1 turnip, cubed
1/2 green cabbage, sliced thinly (about 1cm)
2 handfuls red lentils
a slosh of white wine
2L (8 cups) vegetable stock
2L water (approximately - just adjust amount of liquid to get your preferred consistency)
salt, pepper

Method:

1) heat oil; make up a soffritto with the onion, carrots and celery, fry until soft;

2) add leeks, if using, and fry for a minute or so; add turnip, cabbage, lentils and wine; bring to boil, then add the vegetable stock and water;

3) let simmer until turnip and cabbage are soft, and the lentils are cooked; season with salt, if necessary, and pepper to taste.

n.b: this would also be good with garlic added to the soffritto, and I like it best served over sourdough that's going a bit stale, kind of like a minestra di pane.

(Image from here)

If I were to go 'holidaying'...

2009-09-22T18:05:00.008+10:00

..this would be my wardrobe. Or the wardrobe I would dream of wearing, at least. Lanvin's latest resort collection from genius Alber Elbaz (and I usually don't give too many hoots about who designs what and bla bla bla). Kooky and pretty and a little bit Frida Kahlo.

I adore the jewel-like colours of turquoise and sapphire with not-so-plain black

Acid-green + gym shoes suddenly seem like a good idea

Those prints! My god, those prints...

Rollip, Rollip!

2009-09-17T17:12:00.004+10:00

Thanks to Cristy of in a garden...somewhere, I have now discovered Rollip. I adore the old-school look of Polaroid pictures, and I've always been tempted to buy a Polaroid camera but haven't been able to find the film for it.

So, naturally, as soon as I read Cristy's post, I rushed as fast as my little fingers could type over to Rollip's website and started playing. I predict many, many more hours of Polaroid-ising my photos for fun. I had a go at trying out the different effects using a few of our Brisbane snaps:

And speaking of Cristy, if you haven't already discovered her blog, do yourself a favour and get over there! The segments on her gorgeous girl Lily's lunchboxes are particularly amazing. I wish my lunches were that good ;-)

Rest well

2009-09-16T19:38:00.004+10:00

Sorry for the absence, folks.

The weekend before last, Pat's grandmother was in an accident and passed away. I won't go into it except to say that she was one of the loveliest people I've met, and she'll be very much missed. I'm so glad Baboushka was able to meet her. Here's my little tribute, in honour of her prolific patchwork quilting.

(Unfortunately I don't have any photos of her lovely quilts, so this one is pinched from here)

Limoges love

2009-09-09T14:57:00.004+10:00

When on an op-shop mish these days, I tend not to look at the clothes much. I used to bring home some real gems, most of which I still wear and some that I will never be able to get rid of despite not being able to fit into them any more. (This is, of course, why I had a daughter - to pass them on to her ;-))

The last few times I've sifted through the nasty, synthetic stuff (why is it all from Millers 'Fashion' Club??), I have only come across more of the same. No hidden gems, nothing I could even be paid to wear. Once upon a time this saddened me, but these days my attentions are drawn elsewhere: to the two long, shining shelves of bric-a-brac (laaaaaaaaaaa!). I've recently had to impose a ban whereby I do not bring home any more cute teacups or Johnson Bros plates.

Here is some of my favourite loot - Limoges-looking plates and saucers in pretty gelato hues:

Oh, and tablecloths! This lovely linen one has been awarded official 'good' status - I'm slightly terrified of using it unless it is a special occasion that does not involve beets or red wine..

Just look at that detail! I cannot believe I was able to buy it for all of $3, when someone has clearly put in many hours of work and a lot of effort.

I want his hair..

2009-09-08T23:59:00.005+10:00

This guy cracks me up. He swoops down when I'm hanging out the washing, and then hangs around quite cheekily until I give him some bread (and then proceeds to eat it from the safety of our flagpole). Which is not really the right thing to do - he is native, and bread is not. However, I do appreciate his visits and my stand-up routine will only keep his attention for so long. Solution: buy native birdseed tomorrow.

Muchas gracias, amigas!

2009-09-08T21:13:00.004+10:00

Here is a big umbrella thank you to everyone who commented on my post-before-last :-) And to everyone who has ever commented, in fact. You're all marvellous and your kind thoughts and words were vivid reminder of what is probably the best part of blogging, the feeling of having had the good fortune to join a community of multi-faceted, multi-talented and downright lovely individuals.

Thank you!

PS: I was also very interested (and relieved) to see people's thoughts of the Rachel Cooke article. I'm glad I'm not the only one whose nerves it touched, or who found the idea that new mothers are selfish twits to be an unfair generalisation on her part. Vive les mamans (et les maman-sympathisers)!

Gratuitous cuteness

2009-09-08T00:54:00.004+10:00

Here's Baboushka with her new and awesome toy, a giant Chibi totoro! Her dad is a big Miyazaki fan - heck, so am I - and he couldn't resist ;-)

Acapulco-style

2009-09-07T18:51:00.005+10:00

After some deliberation (philosophising is a rare pleasure these days...), I decided that my newly lukewarm attitude to blogging was not, as previously gathered, a result of a lack of inspiration. Not that my life is ragingly interesting, but there is plenty to be grateful for (and a cute baby to photograph).

Nope, it's pure, beige-coloured apathy. I started getting a niggling feeling that posting little segments of my life for public viewing was, well, a wee bit wanky. I felt like maybe I needed more coherence, or a little gimmick, or one of those weekly segments that I enjoy on other blogs (give me segmented anything. Terry's Chocolate Oranges rock my world), to validate any further broadcasts from my neck of the woods. I made the unfortunate discovery that life in the Land of Blog can sometimes get nasty - this one in particular was a bit of a slap in the face - not to mention I was starting to question whether or not I was entirely comfortable having photos of lil' Baboushka floating around on the interweb (other skittish parents not helping).

All of this made me want to pull the covers over my head and put my blog to rest. I thought about going cold-turkey and quitting blogland for good. The computer lay dark and dusty for weeks. (That is a total lie - I verge into OCD territory with my regular Googling of the weather forecast.) But I didn't want to give up reading the wonderful stuff out there that I've so enjoyed over the year.

So I've decided to just dive back in, Acapulco-style, and not give it so much thought in future. To be honest, I don't really give a flip what anyone thinks of my blog. I started it for myself, as a light-hearted, amateur, not-particularly in-depth journalistic exercise in posterity. No reason to change it, really...I'll just try to keep posting as regularly as my almost-mobile offspring allows ;-)

So devoid of inspiration I can't even think of a decent post title

2009-08-27T00:35:00.004+10:00

Ugh. The old blogger's ennui. It's what I've got. Here's a little picture in the meantime...

I'm ba-ack!

2009-08-16T18:44:00.006+10:00

Pat, Baboushka and I are back home from our little voyage to Brisbane. It was lovely, we somehow managed to see and do a lot while having a good old-fashioned relax.

But before I write about any holiday hijinks or put up any pictures (that will probably take me a little while - lame traveller that I am, the plane trip has left me feeling woozy and as though I'm rocking in a boat. Or a CityCat, if you will.), I have to share this site that I recently read about - Tom's. Not only do they have some very rad footwear, but they have a social conscience. For each pair of shoes that you buy from Tom's, they will donate a pair to a child in need :-)

On my wishlist:

And for Baboushka, these adorable wee paint-splatter shoesies!

Mini-break

2009-08-06T23:02:00.002+10:00

Just having a small break from blogging :-) Be back soon!

xxx

Bassike instinct

2009-08-04T19:57:00.007+10:00

What a title, right? Sorry about that.

Anyways, Bassike is a 'strayan label that I've been eyeing of for ages now (but always resisted because I wasn't sure if it was 'me'), and I really really really like these:

I don't usually go for mod, clean lines and drape-y jersey garments, but lately my brain keeps looping back around to this kind of clothing. I love the jodhpur-style trousers because I never really got over Nicolas Ghesquière's 'multi-ethnic/preppy college-girl chic' collection of 2007 for Balenciaga.

(Well, except for the fringed scarves. Never has a fashion trend made me crankier. I want to puke when I see the fluorescent, chain-store versions walking towards me.)

And the electric blue harem pants? Like street-worthy tracksuit pants in one of the greatest colours ever. They would make morning dressing in .5 seconds oh so much easier...Help! I need to be dissuaded...

Papier d'amour

2009-08-01T19:31:00.005+10:00

Given that my attention span is shorter than that of a goldfish, I need to have many crafty pastimes on the go at any given time. Which means, of course, that they never get finished. But, uh, it's the thought that counts, right?

My current obsession is one I have rekindled - the ancient (?) art of collage. I've been buying books with rad, old-school pictures from the op-shop and tearing out the best pictures for this great, enduring kindergarten love (other kindergarten loves that have endured include colouring-in, spelling bees and juice).

Isn't that picture cool? I am toying with putting it in a frame for Baboushka's bedroom...although the dead moose is perhaps a little macabre for a 6-month-old...

Tearing pages out of books feels so naughty, but good naughty. I wonder if they will still let me be a librarian..?

Hottest 100..?

2009-07-31T22:22:00.002+10:00

Um, I know this was a few weeks ago, but what was with the serious lack of females on this list?!?

I should admit that I didn't vote - I had heard about Triple J's Hottest 100 Of All Time on the car radio, each time making a mental not to vote when I got home, and each time completely forgetting.

So here are my Top Ten Female Musicians Of All Time (or my favourites, at least. I can't believe not one of them made it into JJJ's list!), with links to favourite song of theirs:

1) Björk
2) Róisín Murphy
3) Billie Holiday
4) Nina Simone
5) Tori Amos
6) Elizabeth Fraser (of The Cocteau Twins)
7) Beth Orton
8) PJ Harvey
9) Siouxsie Sioux
10) Kate Bush <--this one's for my own Baboushka, of course ;-)

Rock on, ladies.

6 months

2009-07-27T13:19:00.004+10:00

Well well, my little sprite, you're half a year old :-)

Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding

2009-07-26T21:48:00.004+10:00

It's been a while since I posted a recipe, so here is an enduring favourite and winter must-bake:

Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding

Ingredients:

* 1 cup self-raising flour
* 2 Tbs cocoa
* 3/4 cup sugar
* pinch salt
* 1 cup milk
* 2 Tbs vegetable oil
* dash of vanilla essence
* chopped walnuts (optional)

For the sauce:

* 3/4 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 cup cocoa
* 2 cups hot water

Method:

1) Sift flour and cocoa into mixing bowl; add sugar and salt, mix;

2) Make a well and pour in milk, oil and vanilla; add walnuts if using; place pudding mixture into oven-proof baking dish (I mix the ingredients in a large oven-proof bowl, to limit washing up hassles);

3) Mix together sauce ingredients (I mix the dry first and slowly add the water, so the cocoa doesn't clump together); pour onto the back of a spoon over the pudding mix;

4) Bake in a moderate oven (about 180 degrees Celsius?) for 45-55 minutes (a knife inserted should come out relatively clean, but remember there is chocolate sauce at the bottom). Dust with icing sugar for extra la-dee-dah factor.

*n.b. This pudding goes well with good vanilla ice-cream...or even better with pouring cream.

(Image via Google, as my puddings never stick around long enough to be photographed...)

Oh, and...

2009-07-25T20:44:00.004+10:00

...for our suburban forest frolics, I was dressed thusly:

vintage silk scarf: Liberty
Tee: AA
vintage waistcoat: belonged to mum
skirt: thrifted

Garden galavanting

2009-07-25T19:15:00.006+10:00

We've been having some particularly gorgeous weather in the old 'Gong the last few weeks - perfectly clear, sunny days that are warm enough to get about in a t-shirt, while the nights are cold enough to warrant seriously cosy measures like steaming hot soup, chocolate pudding and watching Weeds under a blanket.

Last Wednesday, Baboushka and I took full advantage of the glorious day outside and journeyed to the local Botanical Gardens, where I practiced using Pat's la-dee-dah camera:

I can't live without...

2009-07-25T18:51:00.002+10:00

Wonderful, dear Amanda of L-Plates recently had the inspired idea to do a 'Things I Can't Live Without' weekly segment, and last week I was up! Go and check out Amanda's blog, and, in case you're interested, have a geeze at the things I deem necessary to keep my sanity in check ;-)

Amanda, you rock, your family is the sweetest, I adore reading your blog and I'm so glad to have had the pleasure of meeting you...virtually, at least ;-)

Buh-bye, No-Buy

2009-07-22T20:11:00.002+10:00

And, just like that, No-Buy July ended.

I don't even have a decent excuse. I didn't even try particularly valiantly to resist the lure of consumerism. Very, very poor of me. I have the sneaking feeling that I am one of those personality types...you know, the one who is drawn to doing something only when they are not actually supposed to be doing it. In which case, a Go-on-a-mad-buying-spree July would have been more apt.

Anyway, Pat and I went shopping today, ostensibly for new work shirts for him (he wasn't bound by No-Buy July's rules), and ended up buying three big bags of tea from T2 and two pairs of shoes and a pair of thongs (in winter. I know) for me. I reasoned that the tea was consumable and thus within the No-Buy July guidelines, but the footwear was new. And amazingly cheap - $34 for two pairs of slip-on boating-type shoes and a pair of Champagne-coloured Havaianas.

Okay, that's my confession. It's pretty sad that I found it so hard! Here are the things I'll take from this little episode:

* keeping one day a week a Buy-Nothing day - not even food. This means I'll have to be organised and make sure we have the things we need in advance, or go without;

* not buying takeaway hot beverages;

* not buying bottled beverages;

* I'm going to attempt to keep a one-thing-in, one-thing-out rule. If I bring something new into the house (food and basic toiletries being the exception), I need to take something out - old clothes to the op-shop, other useful items to charity, etc.

These, I think I can manage...

Snow hat

2009-07-21T12:23:00.004+10:00

Up to Bowral we went on Sunday. To the charmingly ramshackle farmhouse of one of Pat's aunts to eat sponge cake and date scones. Baboushka had a lovely time with her cousins (well, second cousins, but really..), and we stayed toasty inside while gazing at the cold, dry fields outside. Actually, it wasn't that cold (hence flimsy blouse)...but my snotty nose made it seem that way..

Mohair beanie: vintage, thrifted
Top: from mum (think she wore it as a bridesmaid to one of her sisters' wedding?)
Skirt: secondhand Country Road, Smith Family
Riding boots: secondhand, eBay

Oooh, an award!

2009-07-20T22:39:00.011+10:00

Wow! Lovely Angel from Vintage Angel has given me a blog award! Thank you, Angel :-) There are a couple of rules that go with it:

* Copy the logo and place it on my own blog
* Link it back to the person who gave it to me
* Pass it on to five fellow bloggers (I'm living dangerously and giving eight)
* List 10 things about myself

I would like to pass this award on to some of my absolute favourite bloggers:

Ballarat Vintage Style
boatshedchic
Hippie on the Inside
fat mum slim
K.Line
L-Plates
MLF
Vintage Stories

1) My obsession with all things 1920's gives me the distinct feeling of having been born 80 years too late;

2) I drink tea every day, without fail;

3) I've been an artist's model for three years now and it's one of my favourite jobs so far;

4) I don't play any instruments but I'm quite the whistler;

5) My pet hates include systemic functional grammar, leaf blowers and people who litter;

6) I'd quite like a reptilian pet, like a carpet python or an iguana;

7) Current obsessions include travelling all over Europe under the guise of it being a 'linguistic pilgrimage';

8) I wish my hair was naturally curly and red;

9) If I had to name something I collect, I'd say vintage silk scarves. But it's not a very big collection;

10) I have about 100 courses/diplomas/classes/etc that I want to do 'one day'. Maybe I not-so-subconsciously miss being a full-time student and am trying to find a way to keep living the dream...

The Buzz

2009-07-20T20:28:00.007+10:00

I am not known for my analogies. Or rather, I am known for how very, very bad they are. A few months ago, searching for a unique and inspired way to tell one of my friends how much I missed him, I asked Pat for a decent analogy. His suggestion? "I miss you more than the moon misses Buzz Aldrin". Perfect! I yelled. Not least because my friend and I address each other by lunar-inspired nicknames.

Tonight, amid the 'buzz' (heehee!) surrounding the 40th anniversary of the moon landing (a name I've always considered odd, given it was the moon that was landed on...but, uh, no matter), I was thrilled to see what Buzz himself has been up to:

I have already listened to this three times, and I predict at least two more replays before I go to bed.

Sniffles

2009-07-18T14:31:00.003+10:00

In other news, I'm a bit poorly today. Pat's been sick with a cold all week and now I've got it. Bouh :-(

Here's an outfit post from about a month ago that I completely forgot to put up:

On a crafty mission...

2009-07-17T23:29:00.004+10:00

I've been feeling crafty lately, and, it being No-Buy July and all, of course I'm itching to start new projects. Which all invariably involve some sort of purchase. So first I pout, then make a cup of tea, and then have a think about the projects I currently have in the pipeline and that need finishing. And being the kind of person who tends to start things with vigour and then never finish them, I have plenty of half-finished little enterprises lying around.

Like this embroidery! My grandmother, who claims that she never would've gotten around to finishing it herself, gave me this tablecloth to finish. True to form, I started diligently back in January, as a way to pass the long, hot days while I waited for the imminent arrival of our little Baboushka. And as soon as she popped out, so did my motivation for anything arts and crafts.

Until now :-)

Bibs are not just for babies...

2009-07-12T17:39:00.007+10:00

I've always adored big, outrageous necklaces (especially ons with with ribbon ties!) and I fell hard for Alber Elbaz's recent enamel and plexiglass confections for Lanvin:

A few months ago, one of my favourite bloggers, The Glamourai, wrote a diy post on making a bib necklace. Naturally, my brain shouted "Sign me up!" for this particular project. And, of course, it's all I can think about now that it's No-Buy July. Gargh!

Come August 1, I'll be in one of three places: either a) sprawled on the bed, sorting through old bits of vintage costume jewellery that I bought for the sheer cheapness but never wear, b) bottom firmly planted to this seat, browsing eBay for yet more cheap paste jewellery, or c) haunting op-shops in search of sparkly candy.

Watch this space ;-)

Sibling times!

2009-07-12T16:39:00.007+10:00

Even though I miss my brothers like mad when I or any of them are living far away, the rad times and crazy hijinks we enjoy when all four of us are together are worth it. I love them to bits and I'm lucky that three of us are currently in the same neighbourhood, and our fourth brother is only a cheap flight away in Brisbane.

He was down for the week and it was lovely, and the icing on that cupcake was that two of his housemates, fabulous Irish girls, came along as well! We all went out on Friday night, I had a few cheeky beers (not sure how that fits in with No-Buy July, but I reasoned that they were food) and we caught up for brunch in the park the next morning.

(Chatting to pram-riding, park-ready Baboushka)

Baboushka's uncles took her on the slippery dip and the Irish girls sang her songs while I enjoyed my coffee, buttery fruit toast and vanilla-malt milkshake. Hence my dress-over-jeans combo - I tend to over-indulge when I go to our local bakery and this was one of my favourite pregnancy dresses ;-)

long-sleeved tee: Country Road, thrifted
vintage cotton dress: eBay
jeans: sass&bide, secondhand from eBay
belt: thrifted

Jaded

2009-07-12T15:15:00.007+10:00

If I were to answer that ridiculous, yet for some reason, ubiquitous question, "What's your favourite colour?", my answer would be turquoise. But really, my love of blue-green hues extends from darkest Midnight Green, through viridian, jade, aquamarine, celadon all the way to the palest shade of seafoam. I knew PAt was the man for me when he got me the above Pantone mug for my birthday (and, because hot beverage enthusiasts can never have too many mugs, I later purchased this one to keep 337C company).

So, along just about everyone with a passing interest in fashion in blogland, I was immediately enamoured of Karl Lagerfeld's latest collection for Chanel:

For probably the first time ever I even noticed the models' nail colour. I was briefly tempted to hunt down a similar shade for my own talons, which is unheard of for me (I will never reconcile myself to nailpolish. Or most makeup, for that matter). I also loved the pale shell pink (also unheard of - poor Baboushka is often mistaken for a baby boy as she's so rarely in pink).

Sometimes I wonder if, when starting each new collection, Karl et al simply pull a crayola out of a hat. And then sit back and laugh when they see us wearing it..

Personal Style Challenge - Version LBD

2009-07-10T00:43:00.004+10:00

Ella has come up with a new spin on the Polyvore Personal Style Challenge - the Little Black Dress version!

Personal Style Challenge - LBD by iris_rouge featuring Chanel jewelry

When it comes to the Little Black Dress, I'd splash out and go for something unashamedly sexy, while still maintaining a bit of old-school glamour. For me this means tousled, come-hither hair, liquid liner, a tight-but-not-too-short dress and some ridiculously gorgeous, green-feathered shoes.

Speaking of the hair, I'm not really one for Vogue but have you seen this editorial with Aussie model Abbey Lee Kershaw?

Pencil skirts and cute tees as retro Riviera chic? Wow. I officially miss summer..

No-Buy July - Week 2: Anger, Bargaining

2009-07-09T14:54:00.006+10:00

Even though July only started last Tuesday, I am embarrassed to admit that it's already making me cranky. We had Stage One: Denial last week when I was completely ignorant to the fact that July had already started, and had a little op-shop frenzy. Eeep.

I recently went through Stage 2: Anger. Suddenly I was reminded of all the things I want to buy, whether I 'need' them (new trainers, more socks) or not (vintage summer dresses despite the fact that it's currently winter - I blame the likes of Strawberry Koi and other lovely vintage bloggers!). Plus, I have two birthday presents to buy - one for my brother Mont, the other for Pat. Both want gadget-y things for their computers, which I may or may not be able to find secondhand.

I seem to have arrived at Stage 3: Bargaining, and, in the interest of preserving my sanity, I have declared this a Compacting July, whereby I abstain from buying anything new and/or unnecessary. So food-type groceries are allowed, as are a present each for Pat and Mont, and if Baboushka has one of her radioactive growth-spurts I'll source baby clothes from the op-shop.

No-Buy July has not been all denial and crankyness, however; I have banned myself from a purchasing a number of things, like takeaway coffees and food in packets like oats and rice, and I will continue my prohibition of these items even after July is over. We're lucky to have a local shop where we can buy things like pulses, nuts and cereals by weight and bring them home in our own containers (we use the giant glass jars of artichoke hearts we get from the same shop), and there's a co-op at the university that does this as well.

It's so much nicer to shop at these places than at Coles or Woolies, as well. Last week I had a great conversation at the nut shop with a guy who'd studied French at Berkeley - he wanted to know if I thought wearing hats would make him look 'rakish' - and the ladies who work there are quite enamoured of Baboushka. Plus, they stock Samir's falafel and sahlep. I love Samir's!

Well, we're pretty much famous

2009-07-08T11:55:00.004+10:00

Who could have guessed that an idle bit of sartorial time-occupying could have grown, mushroom-like, into the Polyvore Personal Style Challenge?! Lovely, gorgeous Mademoiselle Lady Finger has just informed me that we even made it onto Polyvore's blog! There are over 100 sets, that's pretty darned exciting.

MLF Challenge by acatofimpossiblecolour featuring Prada sunglasses

Speaking of travel jealousy! Lucky Cat of Impossible Colour's cute outfit for a Parisian sojourn ;-)

It's amazing (and heartening! Thank goodness for individuality) to see how much variation there is between people's choices. To everyone who has played, will play or is playing, thank you!

Airport hijinks

2009-07-08T11:07:00.005+10:00

I do love me a jaunt to the airport (yesterday it was to pick up brother Monty), even if it makes me pine for world-wide travel (not to mention the indulgent feeling of padding about in socks on the plane!). So, how to avoid Envy's cold, green claws? Wear something sprightly and sweet!

tweed cap: Salvo's
silk scarf: Liberty, secondhand eBay
wooden bead necklace: thrifted
top: Kookai, gift from mum
skirt: American Apparel, also gift from mum (thanks, Ma!)
tights: who knows?
men's boots: secondhand eBay

Oh, Róisín!

2009-07-05T21:24:00.008+10:00

I can't quite think what went through my mind when I purchased this on a whim a few weeks ago:

It was probably around the witching hour, I was probably feeding Baboushka and browsing eBay at the same time, sleep and sanity were probably lacking. But I have a sneaking suspicion that this fine lady may have had something to do with it:

Róisín! You crazy, tight-sweatered minx, you! Of course I would have seen a picture of you sporting a futuristic confection from Gareth Pugh and come to the conclusion that I needed something similar!

So, while scanning eBay for well-priced (ie, under $20), hardy jackets to shield me from winter's impending chill, a cherubic, winged-Róisín appeared up on my right shoulder. On the other shoulder, a drab, beige-clad, clip-board-wielding Róisín popped up. And, well, Angel Róisín won.

It arrived a few days ago (with a heart-decorated note from a friendly, anonymous neighbour, saying it had landed on his/her doorstep last month. Thanks, neighbour!). I feel kind of like a futuristic matador from the Wild West when I wear it, so it probably won't be as versatile as I'd been hoping for in a jacket. But it fits p.e.r.f.e.c.t.l.y and makes me feel like a kooky Irish singer, so practicality be damned!

Ode to op-shopped furniture..

2009-07-05T19:44:00.010+10:00

This is my lounge room. Well, half of it. Or maybe just a corner...anyway:

The sideboard was from my favourite op-shop, and at $120 I think it is the most I've ever paid for a piece of furniture. I saw it, decided to think about it for a day, and that night I had nightmares about other people buying it. I raced to the shop at 9am and almost peed with relief that it was still there.

The lamp...well, that's a nice little story, maybe I'll leave it for another post. The armchair was a side-of-the-road find (there are actually two of them). While I was lugging them home on my back, heavily pregnant and in the middle of summer (not a good idea), a carload of young males drove past, stopped to drop a friend off, and drove away. And they say chivalry is dead!!

My photos don't even come close to showing just how lovely the dark wood is, nor the pretty bakelite handles. The Ladurée bag came home from Paris with my mum, complete with a box of delectable macaroons, and is a daily reminder that I should..erm, eat more macaroons..

On top of the dresser live some of my favourite botanical and marine curiosities. The triangular thing is a piece of coral my brother The Yeti brought back from Thailand, and I drew the crayfish myself!

And my little collection of butterflies. I had found all three of them, already dead, and so my mum got me this box to keep them in. Behind is a bowlful of Pat's origami.

This is the first 'proper' artwork I ever owned, created by one of my outrageously talented aunts.

The Parker coffee table *sigh*. I fell in love with it's Danish good looks and $30 price tag (same op-shop as the sideboard). Only when we got it home did we discover the Parker stamp, which, brand-snob that I am, made me love it more.

(a close up of the strip of rad-patterned barkcloth on the coffee table.)

Maybe one day I'll get around to tidying the other half of the room..

PS: How hot is our carpet?!

Off to the hairdresser..

2009-07-02T11:52:00.003+10:00

This vintage cardi is one of those wardrobe items I often forget I have, but when I manage to locate it under the mess that is my woolen clothes area, it's always just what I'm looking for. I figure, being mohair, it's the best thing to wear when about to be covered in hair!

Buh-bye, fried ends (and possibly topknot)!

Hair-brained

2009-07-01T21:26:00.009+10:00

Gargh, what a ditz I am. This is why:

Wonderful Eco-Chic-Mummy from one of my favourite blogs, Hippie on the Inside, recently posted about having a Buy Nothing July. As someone who gets as much of a kick out of being frugal as I do buying something nice (how does that even work?!), and who finds the idea of compacting immensely appealing, I thought, "By golly, maybe I could give it a go, too!".

So today, Baboushka and I had lunch in town with my mum and my brother T-Bone, and afterward we all decided to go for a quick peek at our favourite op-shop. I ended up finding some treasures (to be posted once photos are taken), and felt like quite the clever little thrifter. I remembered Buy Nothing July, and thought to myself, "Hey! Lucky I got that in before July!" and had the brainwave to go and book the haircut I've been thinking about having for months. Actually, years - I haven't had a haircut in about 4 years.

I've been feeling so very excited about this haircut - the scalp massage! The smell of hairdressers' products! The flattering lights! The free coffees! The glossy magazines! All so la-dee-dah. Not to mention the nice, hopefully manageable hairstyle at the end of it all. I've been cutting my own hair with rusty kitchen scissors for 4 years (occasionally using a nail-clipper to trim errant chunks <-- this is such a bad idea) and letting a professional take over will be a nice change.

But I've just noticed that today is actually the first of July. I don't know what day I thought it was (knowing the date is not currently one of my strong points), but July was not it.

*sad face*

Maybe I should make this July more of a 'Compacting July', seeing as I've already kind of mangled my attempt?

PS: Or maybe I should actually say no to the haircut? I can't decide what to do with this mop - the 'safe' part is leaning towards something Uma-esque, but the slightly-less-safe Iris is incurably drawn to a Seberg-style crop...

Happy B-Day...

2009-06-29T22:29:00.010+10:00

Dad! It's a bit late coming (his actual birthday was several weeks ago. Bad daughter!), but better late than never, I s'pose.

One of my earliest memories of my Dad is of him teaching me to swim, and later, to snorkel. I still love both (although I don't do enough snorkelling these days). We're always saying that we'll get our scuba-diving licenses together - maybe this summer we'll finally stop talking and actually do it?! Here's Dad at one of our favourite swimming spots (secret location is highly classified!):

He's been going down the coast to the same South Coast holiday spot since he was a baby, and so have my brothers and I. He is utterly in love with the place, and so are we.

Dad has a wicked sense of humour, very dry and often sarcastic. He's very much an environmentalist with a strong social conscience, and his fierce intellect and penchant for cryptic crosswords is intimidating! I wonder if I would have found the motivation to knuckle down and finish my degree (while 8 months' pregnant!) without his quiet encouragement.

(Here we are with two of my brothers, Dave and T-Bone)

No tribute to Dad would be complete without mentioning what a marvellous grandad he is to Baboushka. If ever a grandfather has been besotted with his grand-daughter! And she has a special soft spot for Dad - together they read stories, explore the backyard, have big squeezy hugs, chew on all manner of toys that he brings over (well, Babs does most of the chewing), and playing in cardboard boxes!

And now for something serious..

2009-06-29T15:31:00.006+10:00

Last night, Baboushka gave Pat and me a very unpleasant scare. While Pat was changing her nappy, she started choking (on what, we're not sure - probably a bit of vom-vom) and was having difficulty breathing. Pat called me in, I called 000, but thankfully Pat had it sorted before they even picked up. And then I burst into tears and Baboushka, safe and happy, started giggling (cheeky monkey).

In the scale of things, it was pretty minor, but it scared the life out of me. I'm still feeling very serious about the whole thing (light-hearted posts will resume shortly). In fact, I don't think I've ever been so terrified. I was fairly concerned a few months ago when Baboushka's newborn screening tests came back with positive results for both Phenylketonuria and Homocystinuria - false positives, as it turned out, but for a few weeks there, every time I thought about it my heart sank. But this had nothing on the thought that my little girl could... well, it's best left unwritten.

This is an element of motherhood for which I was pretty unprepared. I knew I'd worry and fret, but the extent of these feelings is completely new to me. So here is a question for everyone out there, parent or not: how do you deal with these sorts of feelings?

Coco Nut

2009-06-28T00:18:00.006+10:00

Speaking of outfits, here's mine from yesterday (or was it the day before? They all start to blend):

In the spirit of making more of an effort, which itself is in the spirit of having finally gotten a Flickr account and joining the groups Wardrobe Remix and The Uncommonly Fetching Mamas, I went to the skirt I fondly think of as The Chanel Skirt. It was my mother's - she looked like a minx in it but claims it no longer fits - and I was more than happy to give it a new home.

This outfit was in the spirit of all sorts of things, it turns out. The spirit of thrift is another one. The skirt was gratis, the tee was cheap (American Apparel, purchased off eBay for further thriftiness), the belt was another maternal hand-me-down (thanks, Ma!) and I nabbed this beret from my Dad.

And how could I forget the spirit of Chanel herself? Yes, the beret was chosen mainly for it's ability to cover lank locks-in-dire-need-of-a-wash, but I like to think that it, the skirt and the ubiquitous ballet flats are a subtle nod to Coco herself. Just in time for the movie!

Top+Jeans+Flats

2009-06-27T20:44:00.002+10:00

Mademoiselle Lady Finger recently wrote a great post (an essay, even!) on personal style. One of her ruminations stuck out: "If I asked you to slip on a pair of jeans, a simple top, a pair of flat shoes, and any accessories you liked, what would you come up with? No doubt you'd come out looking vastly different to the next person, but how?"

I want to see this put into practice! So I'm going over to Polyvore to pick my outfit...

Top+Jeans+Flats by iris_rouge on Polyvore.com

(okay, yes, this was really just an excuse to play on Polyvore)

...and here it is! Well, this is what I'd choose if I had 20 minutes and an unlimited budget..

I'm a wee bit shy about tagging people with something new, so anyone who wants in on this little social experiment, be tagged!

Australiana (+ my favourite colour)

2009-06-27T19:33:00.003+10:00

Today on Thriftin':

A recent op-shop mish uncovered such treasures as an old Arnott's tin, a blue enamel, er, implement for heating milk (and re-heating coffee!), a light green Woods Ware teacup,

...and four pretty turquoise teacups, two sandwich plates (one a Grindley),

...and two Australiana linen teatowels

5 months

2009-06-27T18:49:00.004+10:00

Good gracious me, it's gone fast. And yet, at the same time it feels like I've been a mum for much longer.

You have a fabulously cheeky sense of humour - you really crack me up, my little gulab jamun!

You love pointing at different things (and sometimes making a 'peace' sign, teehee)..

..and you're getting very good at letting us know what you want. Oop, cuddle time!

Finally...

2009-06-25T19:28:00.001+10:00

A picture of Angelina Jolie looking tired! Don't get me wrong, she looks fantastic, but it also looks as though she's been running around after children and maybe missing a bit of sleep. In a world where Paris Hilton (reportedly) gets paid ridiculous amounts to travel to Australia to attend some party for New Year's Eve, it's nice to see Angelina not letting her celebrity get in the way during her speech for World Refugee Day.

My year(s) without meat

2009-06-25T10:26:00.009+10:00

When I started blogging, I decided that it would be best if I took a strict position against describing my dreams. I have very vivid, Lynchian, sometimes lovely, sometimes hideous and always perplexing dreams. It's rare that I don't remember what I got up to in the Land of Nod, and I really have to restrain myself from inundating poor Pat (or anyone else I come across) with my nocturnal adventures in the morning. Regardless of how interesting I think mine might be, other people's dreams are just not very interesting.

I'm so sorry, but today I'm breaking my little rule! Last night's is still right there in front of me, it was one of those dreams that is so real it's palpable. A lot happened, and I'll spare you those details, but the bit that stuck with me went like so: I was at my Dad's, he wasn't home and for whatever reason, I took a big steak out of the fridge, ripped the strip of fat off, and proceeded to cook it and eat it. The whole while knowing that I don't eat meat but not being able to stop, as though I were in some sort of trance. It made me feel ill, and a few mouthfuls in I spat it out. Then I got myself into a panic about hiding the evidence and went out to buy Dad a new steak.

What the heck was that all about?!

It's coming up to two years of going sans meat, and I admit that I really struggled that first year. I was a top-to-toe eater when it came to meat - there were a couple of things I didn't like, such as tongue and possibly eyeballs (I never tried them), and I wasn't too fond of most things that came from a pig, but give me liver or brains or sweetbreads or gizzards and I'd eat them with the same enthusiasm as I would a scotch fillet or a dozen oysters. Two of the things I missed the most were sashimi anything and daube de boeuf. I used to regularly visit Sel et Poivre in Darlinghurst and, despite the duck leg confit, the foie gras and the charcuterie, I almost always ordered the same thing: a dozen escargots, the daube with pommes purée and a crème brûlée for dessert.

Somehow, after a year of pining for the flesh of every animal imaginable - wild boar, doe, octopus, pheasant, eel! - I got over it. I stopped missing daube and raw fish, I stopped wondering if it would be okay to 'treat myself to whatever meat I wanted just once a year, on my birthday', I stopped considering Sanitarium's canned tvp as a veritable option. I'd felt like such a terrible, fraudulent vegetarian, so it was a great relief to finally feel as though I didn't miss it. I still have fleeting moments of nostalgia and sometimes I'll chat along happily about how much I liked my merguez spicy and my roast beef bloody. Occasionally I'll even pass on recipes for my old favourites, like roast chicken stuffed with preserved lemons.

Even though I'm content in my herbivorous ways nowadays, the dream I had last night would've come in much handier 2 years ago..

Anyways, here's to happy eating!

Everyday everybody

2009-06-24T17:03:00.003+10:00

As someone who gets a kick out of seeing their own name in the phone book, I am delighted to have been featured on Chantelle's wonderful blog, fat mum slim!

Her Everyday Everybody interview idea is a great one, don't you think? Thank you for having me, Chantelle!

Tagged!

2009-06-24T14:26:00.007+10:00

I've been tagged by Amanda of L-Plates!

The rules: 1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own. 2. Tag eight other people.

What is your current obsession?
Becoming a librarian. I find black-rimmed glasses, topknots and pencil skirts ridiculously sexy. (A wise reason indeed when considering a career move.)

What are you wearing today?
Umm… a hand-me-down Aran jumper from my dad, black vintage broomstick skirt, Explorer socks, tan cowboy boots (men’s, naturally), and the usual topknot-with-bits-flying-everywhere (due to curious little hands pulling it).

What’s for dinner?
Risotto with roast pumpkin, English spinach and goat’s cheese (see below).

What’s the last thing you bought?
Cheese! A trip to the Highlands in not complete without a visit to The Cheese Store in Bowral. I got some St Agur blue, half a log of Soignon chèvre, and a wedge of Brie.

What are you listening to right now?
Siouxsie and the Banshees, cockatoos in the gum trees out the back, the hum of the computer.

What are you reading at the moment?
Love in the Time of Cholera, Mother Tongue, The Weather Makers, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues. And my favourite blogs, of course!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
I’d go to France, to the little village I lived in a few years ago, the sweetly named Chevreuse. It would be during the village brocante, with the main street closed to traffic, and I’d spend the time nabbing old velvet curtains and vintage posters, while eating a slice of tarte Tatin and swigging a glass of Jurançon.

Which language do you want to learn?
I’ve always wanted to learn a minority language, like Quechua or Breton or Basque. More practically, I’d love to get better at Spanish and German.

What do you love most about where you currently live?
Wollongong drives me nuts – I keep leaving, only to find myself back here. However, I do love the escarpment and the old bush tracks that crisscross it, and the proximity to the South Coast. But the best thing about living here is that I live in the same neighbourhood as my dad and two of my brothers.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
My emerald green brocade formal gown. It was $60 from an antique shop and the lovely lady who sold it to me threw in a pair of handmade earrings as well! How lovely.

Describe your personal style?
Disheveled, boot-wearing, vintage-loving geek.

If you had $300 now, what would you spend it on?
I’d head to Net-a-Porter or The Outnet and splurge on a beautiful dress for special occasions. This Anna Sui, or this one by Diane von Furstenberg, or this Acne dress, or this one or this one from Antik Batik...

What are you going to do after this?
Make a cup of tea and check on the little one.

What are your favorite films?
Anything with subtitles. Movies always seem that much more interesting when they happen in a foreign language.

Whose work/designs are you inspired by?
I'll have to copy Amanda and say Surrealism. When I was younger, I was distraught that the Surrealists had already been and gone – I’ve always thought I was born 80 years too late. I also love William Morris and the Pre-Raph pack, Roy Lichtenstein and the Bauhaus.

Do you collect anything?
Books. I've just started collecting the Penguin Classics. And vintage silk scarves. And I have more teacups than I ever actually use.

What makes you follow a blog?
Humour, eloquence and ladies in cute clothes.

Do you like to comment on blogs or just lurk?
I try to comment as much as I can – I’m ridiculously happy when someone comments on my own blog, so I like to pass that happy feeling along :-)

What’s one thing you dream of doing?
Living overseas, in lots of different places. So that a) I can practice the languages I know and learn new ones, and b) to give Baboushka an appreciation of the wider world.

What is your biggest regret?
I’m not really one for regret, although when my husband and I broke up a few years ago, I wish I had been better behaved, more diplomatic and generally nicer about the whole thing.

What's the one place you'd like to visit before you die?
The one place?!? Mean question. It’d have to be either the Yucatán, to explore relics of pre-Columbian civilizations; northern India and Nepal, to visit Buddha’s stomping ground; or Tanzania, to see Rift Valley and the Ngorongoro. Or Scotland, to traipse the moors with Braveheart-type music playing in my head.

I'm going to tag:

apricot tea
Anemone
boatshedchic
K.Line
Skylark and Son
Strawberry Koi
Vegan and Vintage
Vintage Stories

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

2009-06-21T16:54:00.003+10:00

Ooh, I love this cake. It used to be my 'thing' - I made it often, sometimes several times a week during school holidays, and while I flirted with a few other favourites (like Walnut Torte and Double-choc Brownies), Chocolate Zucchini Cake was default dessert. Until I discovered cheesecakes, and began devoting my baking time to first perfecting the classic New York and then experimenting (Nigella's Lime and Chocolate is divine, but that's another post).

The other night, out of nowhere, I was stricken with an incurable craving for my old Choc-Zucchini friend. Well, not quite incurable - I made one and, by the next night, it had been completely demolished.

CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI CAKE

Ingredients:
Ingredients:

* 2 cups flour (I used wholemeal spelt - I reason that this makes it an essential part of my diet)
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* pinch cinnamon, pinch nutmeg
* 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
* 3 eggs
* 1 1/2 cups white sugar
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 3/4 cup buttermilk
* 2 or 3 raw zucchini, shredded
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans (optional)
* icing sugar

Method:
1) Grease a 10-inch cake tin. Preheat oven to 180°.

2) Sift flour with baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa; set aside.

3) In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs until light in color and fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar until light and fluffy; beat in oil.

4) Beat in the sifted dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk. (The mixture is quite liquid, and I thought it would turn out badly; as it was, the cake was just the right amount of moist and dense, happy days!)

5) Fold the shredded zucchini into the flour mixture along with vanilla and pecans (if using). Spoon into prepared tin and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a clean knife inserted in center comes out clean. (My cake took a bit longer, maybe 15 minutes or so.)

6) Cool in tin on rack for 10 minutes, then remove from tin to cool completely. Sift confectioners' sugar over cake before serving. (It is even better served with some thickened cream drizzled over. Which kind of cancels out the health benefits of the sneaky serving of vegetables..)

Bye-bye, lovely weather

2009-06-21T16:22:00.006+10:00

This is from about two weeks ago - we decided to enjoy the unseasonably delightful weather by going for a stroll through the local botanical gardens. I forgot the camera, but Pat dutifully took some pictures of us back at home, basking in the last of the daylight. For some reason, I'd decided to make an effort and replaced my usual shorts and thongs with my new high-waisted jeans and espadrille wedges (thank you to Pat for recording this rare event). Actually, neither of those were actually new - due to my being allergic to paying RRP for anything (except, possibly, milk and bread) I got them off eBay.

Now, the weather is looking more like this:

Ooh, some more autumnal shots. If you look closely, I think there is a rosella right in the centre..

And now, off to Bowral again. Brrrr...

Elephant Boy

2009-06-16T12:11:00.008+10:00

St Pat and I have been taking a heck of a lot of photos of late, so I'll stick them up with appropriate commentary and that should get the mojo back..

Last week, us three bundled up and went up to Bowral to visit Pat's lovely mother. The Southern Highlands are just beautiful this time of year, but, mild-weathered coast-dweller that I am, I'm not used to the cold. However, this means that I have an excuse to wear my favourite coat of all time (a $20 op-shop splurge. I remember being hesitant due to the hefty price tag; thank the gods that good sense prevailed). To date, the only other place it has seen frequent wear is mid-winter France.

We (well, I - Pat and his mum have part-anti-freeze blood, and Baboushka was swaddled in so many layers she resembled a beach ball) braved the icy cold and walked into town to Elephant Boy, a marvellous cafe with book-lined walls and coffee served in bowls.

We also journeyed to The Cheese Store for some raclette (yay, winter!), and I did a bit of thrifting (sadly, not much was uncovered, just a few books).

Back at the homestead, we got cosy in front of the old stove and drank tea and knitted and chatted and ate sticky date cake from the Gumnut Bakery (apparently, their motto is "Life's short - eat dessert first". Ah, a bakery after my own heart!)

We'll be back there next week - I'm working at the Bowral Art School for the first time. Good God I hope they have powerful heating..

Gargh!

2009-06-16T12:01:00.002+10:00

I seem to have misplaced my blogging mojo. Add to that a weekend spent (where else!) down at Jervis Bay, and you have a serious lack of posts! Something that I shall remedy right now.

In the meantime, here is Baboushka's current favourite YouTube clip:

Dammit I can't embed the thing here. So click here.

Handy in case you have a baby/small child who needs settling and favours both the Jazz Age and French house.

I didn't do this on purpose:

2009-06-04T23:28:00.003+10:00

Speaking of subliminal messages, lately Baboushka and I have been leaving the house in matching outfits. Accidentally, of course. And although dressing in this manner makes me feel deeply unsettled, the thought of changing either my or Baboushka's clothes is possibly even more unpleasant.

Anyway, that particular day we were heading out to have lunch with my mum, so I made her take a photo to document me and my eerily small, bald doppelgänger (who was feeling a bit teary, possibly because we were matchy-matchy).

The Redhead

2009-06-04T18:11:00.007+10:00

I feel I've been receiving subliminal messages lately to dye my hair red. Tori Amos has a new album out. I've been re-watching Six Feet Under for the hundredth time (okay, maybe seventh) and as infatuated as ever with Clare's Pre-Raphaelite locks. And now I can't stop listening to La Roux (who, it is said, draws inspiration from possibly my favourite redhead of all time, Annie Lennox).

I'm even going to look past the grammatical glitch of her pseudonym (it should be 'La Rousse') in my admiration. Look at her cool threads! :

(pictures via Google - yes, back to Google image-pilfering. Too tired/hands too full to snap anything this week)

If I'm going to shamelessly style-copy with the hair, I may as well go and find myself a cameo pendant to boot..

PS: although something tells me I won't do anything to my hair, and The Bobble will continue its reign..

Velooouur

2009-05-31T21:09:00.006+10:00

Oooh, I love velour. My first clear recollection of an encounter with the stuff goes back to when we upgraded the family car from rusty old Corona to beloved '85 Tarago. Delilah the Bronze Bullet, how I miss you and your little idiosyncracies. Your sticky brakes. Your cute little "bimp!" sound. Your Hollywoodian wheels. *sheds tear*

Anyways, I remember being entranced by the velour seats more than any other feature, how I could smooth it one way and draw on it with my fingertips. I kept myself amused on many a long car trip this way. Thus, my love of velour. And thus my happy op-shop discovery of a velour blazer in a variation of my favourite green-blue hue (officially Midnight Green. Yep, it's late, Baboushka's having an hours-long dinner and I'm indulging in my love of the lost art of colour-naming. I should be working for Crayola).

Only thing is, it's a wee bit big for me. I'm not sure if I should keep it and love it for all its velour-y, Midnight Green-y goodness, or pass it on to a more deserving home via eBay?

It's cold outside and my feet are like ice-blocks!

2009-05-31T14:55:00.008+10:00

One of my goals this winter is to keep warm. That seems kind of ridiculous, but I've got that 'strayan thing when it comes to winter, the one where we just sort of ignore that it's cold and grit our teeth until it's warm again. The reason that my feet are so cold is because they are bare, which is because I'm not quite used to having to wear shoes yet. The thing is, I pined for the wintry weather over summer - all the lovely soups and stews, the endless pots of hot tea, the coats and gloves and scarves and warm blankets - so I'm determined to throw myself wholeheartedly into the frostiness and embrace it for all its nappy-drying unfriendliness.

Thus, my shopping list for next week (whenever I can bear to put on a jacket and venture outside) looks something like this:

- Explorer socks (in green and purple, oooh)

- A non-hideous anorak for rainy days:
(Maybe this one from American Apparel?)

- Gumboots (also for rainy days, of course):
(I am in love with this pair from Poyntons of Essendon, although I wouldn't say no to a pair from Hunter, either)

- Rooibos tea (see future post for rant on hot beverages)

- Lots more soy yarn (I've started a scarf for Baboushka in this I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Wool and now want one for myself. Then again, Baboushka is 4 months old and wouldn't remember if I were to steal her scarf..)

- Earmuffs:
Okay, I probably won't get any earmuffs, because a) it's a clear advertisement of what a sook I really am when it comes to the cold (my Viking ancestors would be unimpressed); and b) where the heck can I even get a pair?

Thriftin'

2009-05-24T17:50:00.010+10:00

My blog has been feeling decidedly uninspired lately and I've decided it's due to my over-zealous pilfering of images from Google. Blogs are so much better to read when their 'personal' content is higher. Say I (although this could be a hard fact, too).

Without further ado, my new regular installment featuring magnificently cheap finds:

I got this multicoloured afghan blanket last week for $7.50. I've just started making one for Baboushka (pictured hanging out with her Unkie T-Bone), but I'm not one to pass up the thrill of instant gratification. And my own attempt will probably be a bit sucky.

I'm probably more fond of my bedside tables than I should be. I found them on the side of the road one morning (I woke up in the back of my van after a large-ish night and there they were) - the price was definitely right! And the lampshade was about $3 from Salvo's - a happy find as I'd recently torn the almost-identical-but-red shade for that lamp. I'm now wondering if I should be acquiring more orange household items to match my burgeoning collection of Penguin Classics..

(In case anyone wants to know what I'm reading. Sadly, I'm not Japanese-literate - I read Paumes books for their pictures. This one is 'Children's Rooms "London"', which I was hoping would inspire me to make Baboushka's room all lovely. It has yet to happen.)

Working Girl

2009-05-21T14:23:00.006+10:00

Gargh! I'm going 'back to work' tomorrow. I use the term loosely as I'm not returning in a hardcore sense; no, only for a few hours. That's the beauty of my current job, it's as casual as I want it to be and at the moment that's quite casual.

I'm a wee bit nervous as it's my first class since having a baby, and although things seem to have slotted back in to approximately where they were pre-Babushka, well, getting nude in front of people is just not something I can imagine any new mother enjoying. Plus it's getting colder and some of these older buildings, while all charming and bohemian and artiste-friendly, can get kind of cold.

So tomorrow I will be remember why the hell I do this for a living...or rather, what inspired me to pursue this line of work in the first place:

Ah, La Belle Noiseuse, with the very belle Emmanuelle Beart. I love how she makes the idea of being an artist's model so very sexy in this film, all mussed-up hair and Gallic pout. In reality (well, for me, at least), I think it is an amazingly unsexy occupation.

(Emmanuelle with Jane Birkin, another reason to love this film. And I want this house.)

Nope, tomorrow I will be turning up in my tracksuit pants, feeling a bit silly as I always do as I twist myself into (very bad impressions of) Rodin-esque poses, thawing myself out with cups of hot tea and probably chatting about baby vomit and sleeping patterns. Oh, that reminds me, I need to make sure I take a few of my own CDs - at this particular class I remember we once got stuck listening to Celine Dion, and I'm not really that big on Celine Dion.

Ratatouille

2009-05-21T10:31:00.005+10:00

This is one of my favourites this time of year. It's colder outside, the leaves are turning their glorious autumnal colours and I'm inside staying cosy with a a giant cardigan, a bowlful of ratatouille and a glass of red (well, an imaginary glass of red).

In her A Book of Mediterranean Food, quintessential Mediterranean food writer Elizabeth David calls ratatouille "a Provençal ragoût of vegetables, usually pimentos, onions, tomatoes and aubergines, stewed very slowly in oil". She also advises that "the vegetables should not be fried, but stewed in the oil, so simmer in a covered pan for the first 30 minutes, uncovered for the last 10".

Ratatouille:

Ingredients:

* 1 large (or 2 small) eggplants
* 2 red capsicums (or any other colour capsicum, for some reason I prefer red in this recipe)
* 3 or 4 zucchini
* 2 brown onions
* 6 tomatoes, chopped (or 2 tins crushed tomatoes)
* 1 small-ish bunch fresh basil
* 1/2 bunch flat-leaf parsley
* good quality extra virgin olive oil
* salt
* pepper

Method:

1) Slice onions (I chop them half-moon style, if that makes sense), cube eggplant, zucchini and slice capsicums

2) Add a few tablespoons of olive oil to a good, sturdy casserole pot (in my dreams I have a Le Creuset for this), heat and add onions. Add a pinch of salt and stew these slowly until they turn translucent.

3) Add all other ingredients, then leave to simmer for 30-45 minutes. I tend to add the basil later on so it retains it's green, vibrant flavour, and if I'm in the mood I'll add a pinch of raw sugar to the stew as well.

4) I like my ratatouille served with a nice, chewy baguette alongside, or on a bed of fluffy couscous. If I'm feeling very la-dee-da (ie, if I have friends over), I'll jazz up the couscous with some lemon rind and dried rosemary or tarragon (I give them a bash together in a mortar and pestle and stir through the cooked couscous) and toasted pine nuts.

(Image nabbed from Google)

8 Things

2009-05-18T01:24:00.005+10:00

'Cos I like these tagging larks (especially during the last, energy-sapping feed of the night). Thanks to le parapluie deteste la pluie!

8 things I'm looking forward to:
1) going to sleep
2) having afternoon tea with my dad tomorrow
3) buying some yarn to start my first afghan blanket
4) getting my new boots soled
5) Baboushka’s first word
6) teaching Baboushka to swim next summer
7) my post-grad studies
8) living overseas

8 things I did yesterday:
1) had a shower
2) hung out washing
3) walked to beach with Baboushka to meet friends
4) discovered friends meant pub with same name as beach
5) nearly throttled hip-but-daft kid who took 30 minutes to put bircher muesli in tub and hand it over, but thought patient thoughts and smiled sweetly instead
6) went to pub and spewed forth massive bitchkrieg re: hip-but-daft kids in customer service these days
7) felt like old crone re: phrase ‘kids these days’; ordered a Fire Engine to feel young again
8) enjoyed rest of afternoon with friends

8 things I wish I could do:
1) speak Portuguese
2) speak Russian
3) speak Arabic
4) play the piano like Tori Amos
5) breathe underwater
6) knit amazing things
7) tame lions
8) join a circus with my lion-taming skills

8 things I watched recently:
1) At the Movies (re-run)
2) SBS World News
3) Madmen
4) 30 Rock
5) Tony vs Paul on Youtube (for the 100th time)
6) Doubt
7) The Duchess
8) The Reader

Tag yourselves if you're so inclined, friends!

Caramelisation

2009-05-18T00:38:00.006+10:00

On Friday night, I had a bit of a kitchen accident. I'd put a tin of condensed milk on the stove to boil (to make caramel for these fantabulous brownies), and somehow I ended up ensconced in a long-overdue spot of vacuuming (the urge to clean hits at even sillier times of day than the urge to bake), forgot the tin and ended up with a kitchen covered in caramel. What a flipping mess.

I had a feeling it was coming. I'd heard about it happening and read warnings, but secretly I knew it would happen to me. Many a potentially delicious meal has suffered an incendiary, charred death at my forgetful hands. A few months ago I managed to melt a breastpump after what was initially an attempt to sterilise it after its first use. I cried and vowed to be more vigilant in the future. Ah, such good intentions. I like to think that I'm the kind of person who makes plenty of mistakes, but who only has to make them once. But not when it comes to the unmerciful power of the stove top.

I can only hope that the unpleasantness of having to clean a kitchen covered entirely in big gobs of caramel will stay fresh enough in my mind that I will be more careful with my cooking endeavours...

(Image via Google)

Topknot

2009-05-18T00:28:00.004+10:00

Ooh, more Bobble goodness. I love Stam's topknot, probably needs a whole bunch of hairspray, though. I particularly like the Bobble + Metallica tee combo. It reminds me of something I'd wear out to my mailbox, blinking in the morning sun, only with a pair of Bonds Cottontails in place of the jeans. My neighbours are no doubt sick of seeing my underwear, but Cottontails are so enormous that they are practically shorts, no?

(Image via Le Fashion)

I had vague plans for a spot of late night vacuuming

2009-05-14T21:34:00.023+10:00

But instead I am nabbing Lina from Deer Hunter's Google fun quiz-type thing.

1. Your age on your next birthday

2. Your favourite colour

3. Your middle name

4. The last meal you ate

5. Your bad habit

6. Your favourite fruit/vegetable

7. Your favourite animal

8. The town you live in

9. The most useful thing in your house

10. The name of your pet

11. Your most recent purchase

12. Something that makes you happy

13. Your first name

14. Your last name

Anyone who so desires, consider yourself tagged!

Not exactly practical...

2009-05-14T15:44:00.023+10:00

...but during my regular blog perusals I have stumbled upon, among others, these delightful treasures:
all this happiness
clever nettle
Deer Hunter
Esme and The Laneway
fieldguided
le parapluie déteste la pluie
liebemarlene vintage
lost in the forest
The Little House By The Sea
The Vintage Year
Vegan and Vintage.

They're just gorgeous and lots of fun to read, but they make me a little sad for my own lovely vintage and secondhand clothes that are being terribly neglected. Pencil skirts, cute shoes, and anything involving silk, sequins and appliques are up there on my list of Favourite Things to Wear, but they also feature on my new list of Do Not Wear With Small Baby In Tow. And as my small baby spends most of her waking hours (and some of her sleeping ones, too) attached to me, well, you get the picture.

There was one day where I got a chance to wear something nice - Babushka hung out with her doting grandfather while I ventured out for my 6-week postnatal check-up. I wore a pink tweed pencil skirt that somehow fit, but because I felt silly to be dressing up for an occasion that mainly involved hiking said skirt up for my internal (why do they do that only 6 weeks after pushing a small human out? Why?!), and as always I had about 3 seconds in which to clothe myself, it was paired with a t-shirt and thongs. Ah well.

So I'm going to play 'virtual' vintage dress ups (hey, that would be a fun idea - The Sims: Wardrobe Remix. I'd play it! Although I can imagine it getting pretty boring upon realising that there's even less to it that Paris Hilton's day-to-day life. Ouch, retract those claws!). Oh eBay, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

40's dresses in autumnal colours

Black smocks with lace detailing - I wore dresses like this when I was little, I'd wear them now!

(from eBay shop Vintage-With-Heart)

Cute dresses with tiny Liberty-esque blossoms

Strapless floral party dresses (to be worn with a long-sleeved knit underneath and black tights, to subdue the party-ness)

(from eBay shop mama stone vintage)

Obligatory sequins

(from Vintage Glamourpuss)

Fabulous evening bags and clutches

(eBay store Fine Vintage Handbags)

And pretty, pretty heels in jewel-tones

(from eBay shop Floozees Vintage)

Phew! Vintage addiction satiated (for the time being).

Can pumpkin get you high?

2009-05-12T15:54:00.006+10:00

Yes, I know that that is a ridiculous question. Of course pumpkin does not get one high. However, every time I eat this I feel...very good. My version always has a lot of pumpkin in - if I've got a whole pumpkin I'm going to use the whole pumpkin, otherwise it will sit dejectedly in the back of the fridge until it starts supporting a whole other, miniature ecosystem and I have to toss it into the compost. So my first conclusion was that it is the pumpkin illiciting some sort of feel-good, hormonal reaction (or however it works). But it could equally be the lentils or one of the spices - I should look into it. Right after I attack the monstrous pumpkin sitting on my bench while Babushka has a rare afternoon nap..

PUMPKIN & RED LENTIL STEW

Ingredients (serves 4)

* 1 cup red lentils, rinsed in cold water
* 2 Tbs olive oil
* 1 small onion, finely chopped
* 2 garlic cloves, crushed
* 2 tsp grated ginger
* 1 tsp ground cumin (I am often more generous than 1 tsp with the spices)
* 1 tsp ground turmeric
* 1 tsp ground paprika
* 2 cups diced pumpkin
* 2 celery stalks, chopped (I often leave these out, and no dramas)
* 100g green beans, cut into 2cm lengths
* 2 tbs lime juice (ditto the lime juice)
* 1 small bunch coriander, large stalks removed, chopped
* Steamed basmati rice and plain yoghurt, to serve

Method

1. Place rinsed lentils, the curry leaves and 3 cups of cold water (750ml) in a saucepan, bring to the boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a large frypan over medium heat, add onion and cook 2-3 minutes until soft. Add garlic, ginger and spices and cook for 1 minute. Add pumpkin and celery and cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes.
3. Add pumpkin mixture to lentils and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Add beans, cook for 5 minutes, then season with salt and pepper. Stir in lime juice and coriander.
4. Serve with rice, and dollop with yoghurt.

(Image from taste.com.au; original version of this recipe also from taste.com.au)

Go Vego

2009-05-11T19:52:00.010+10:00

After over a year of not having tv, Pat and I caved. It wasn't so much a moral stand against television (although the quality of shows these days seems a bit dire. Seriously, what is 20/01?) as an aesthetic concern - our set looks best against a particular wall, and the aerial cord is located in an opposite corner of the room. So we decided to buy a length of cord and keep it coiled away when the tv is not in use. That this development coincided with Madmen appearing on SBS is no coincidence.

One very cool new thing to have happened to the world of television since I was last there is the appearance of advertisements encouraging people to adopt a vegetarian diet. Well, of course I think this is a good thing, being of the herbivore school myself. I guess I just think it's about time - meat-eaters have had Sam 'Jurassic Park' Neil on their side, for goodness sake, so it's heartening to see a little promotion for our 'side'.

I haven't been able to locate any links pertaining specifically to the SBS campaign, but I did come across this one:

Go Vego ACTION!

In an effort to further promote the various benefits from eating low on the food chain, my plan is to post as many vegetarian and vegan recipes as I can (after testing them out myself, of course!). And I can pretty much guarantee that they will all be pretty darned easy, as my wee lady does not generally permit me a lot of time for fussy food preparation.

(Image via Google)

Forget Mother's Day...

2009-05-11T18:32:00.005+10:00

..I think 'Grandmother's Day' would be more apt. It's this weather - as soon as the days get shorter and the nights have a chill in the air, all I want to do is shuffle about in my dressing gown and get seriously cosy.

Give me a lap blanket, a teapot full of tea, slippers and some knitting (I've just started a new scarf, but I so very badly want to be able to make the blanket above). Add the dulcet tunes of Billie Holiday or Charles Trenet and voilà! Happiness.

(Image via Google)

Chez Helena

2009-05-09T11:52:00.006+10:00

Nosy voyeur that I am, The Selby is one of my favourite blogs to visit. I'm also a big fan of gorgeous Helena Christensen, so I was quite pleased to see that her New York loft recently featured.
(Images from French Vogue via The Selby)

I love Helena's style - she was doing laid-back, quirky bohemian before Sienna Miller even knew what the word meant..

And, just in time for Mother's Day

Coffee in a pretty teacup..

2009-05-09T01:16:00.006+10:00

Yesterday, I did actually attempt something I'd said I would (photograph elements of my 'perfect' day). There's a first time for everything!

Crosswords (and please note casually strewn-out origami paper!):

Coffee in cups that I love but often forget to use:

A happy Baboushka!

And big smoochy kisses (my favourite):

Funny how such a day now consists of simple and easy activities conducted close to home. Once upon a time I would have dreamt up something a little more exotic (probably involving water-skiing, a hot foreign dude and gin martinis. Very James Bond of me).

But the day didn't stop there. We three (I love it when St Pat has a day of in the middle of the week) went out to our favourite place for cheap sushi and noodles, and then I got to pick out presents for Mother's Day, v. spoilt. Later in the evening Pat and I shared a milkshake, and I even found half a Caramello Koala while searching for brown sugar. Needless to say, I went to sleep one contented lady.

When fast food is not enough

2009-05-07T21:47:00.008+10:00

My plans to make a Butterscotch Self-saucing Pudding have been foiled. Oh, the humanity! When Pat ducked out to our local IGA yesterday, three ingredients made it home; brown sugar was forgotten. And since that is a fairly important component of any recipe involving caramel, my BSSP will have to wait.
(photo from La Mia Cucina via Google)

Which brings me to the question: why oh why do we not have a cake/patisserie/other baked goods-version of McDonalds*? The amount of times I've wanted, nay, needed some sort of sweet treat at 9:58pm on a school night and not had the right ingredients/enough motivation to DIY one myself...

*I do not frequent McDonalds, nor do I wish to promote it. But if a cake version did exist, I would likely frequent it.

3-and-a-bit months

2009-05-07T17:38:00.004+10:00

Oh, cherub :-)

Kay loves vintage...

2009-05-05T20:45:00.005+10:00

I'm very envious of blogs that showcase rad vintage finds like Kaylovesvintage, not only for the rad vintage finds but also because the photos are always so beautiful. I feel I am going to have to take up a photography course.

But yes, Kay's blog is lovely. Her vintage finds are stupendous, and it's one of many blogs that nudge me to enjoy the simple things, like a snail on a window or coffee in a pretty teacup. I especially love her idea of a perfect day - coffee, newspaper, chocolate, cooking and origami...I might try for a similar one tomorrow.
(photos from Kaylovesvintage)

How to Watch Movies Under an Australian Doona..

2009-05-05T16:46:00.003+10:00

While Pat was having a choice time in NZ, Anouk and I holed up on the lounge with a doona and some 'girlie' movies. We watched Elizabeth (I can't believe I still hadn't seen it. And now that I have, I can't believe that Gwyneth Paltrow won the Oscar that year!), the newest Pride and Prejudice (a devoted fan of the Beeb production, I didn't think I'd like this version, but I did), and How to Make an American Quilt. Girlie movies were a good choice.

I'd seen HTMAAQ before, eons ago, and it was nice to watch it again and still like it. Sure, Winona Ryder is a bit irritating, but the 50's(?) flashbacks and the beautiful quilt make up for it. Another thing I realised I liked was Finn's cute, hippie/intello wardrobe. Cue Polyvore collage:

HTMAAQ by iris_rouge featuring Frye boots

Now I just need to start my thesis :-/

Pat's back!

2009-05-02T10:01:00.013+10:00

Hurrah! My better half has returned from a week in New Zealand, what a lovely relief. Not least is the relief that he doesn't appear to have swine flu! I'm not one to buy into hype, but now that there's a wee baby in the house I'm discovering the world of maternal paranoia.

Anyway! To lessen my envy at his getting to go to lovely NZ without me (not that a week with only Babushka and I was not Awesome Girl Time), he got me a fabulous book - At Home: A Century of New Zealand Design, which I've been perusing oh so lightly while I wait until I have a cup of Earl Grey and good, quiet hour during which to devour it.
(the Mrkusich House)
(a Garth Chester chair)

Pat's stories of tiki torches in the workplace, rainy weather and a chain of vegetarian restaurants (how do we not have this in Australia?!) have only further ignited my curiosity and possible desire to move there. As has the recent discovery of a handful of great blogs from NZ:

Anemone
craftwerk
etsy-love
HOME New Zealand
hyena in petticoats
juniper
lily's make believe
ruby in the dust
So Tread Softly...
Swonderful
the design alphabet
world sweet world

So many crafty, talented New Zealanders! It's enough to make a girl want to up and emigrate, build a studio and spend the rest of my days painting and knitting and sewing and printing and embroidering... Although the creative juices aren't really flowing at the moment, these blogs are feeding that little part in the back of my brain that is storing ideas for when I finally have both time and brainpower to bust out and get my craft on. It'll be choice, bruh!

Bobble-head

2009-05-01T20:20:00.008+10:00

Lately I've been umm-ing and ah-ing over haircuts - what, where, when, how, etc. You see, a few weeks ago, in a fit of frustration at my lank and tangled locks, I hacked off an inch or so. And before I could finish it 'properly' (my hairdressing skills leave a lot to be desired), Anouk yelled out for a feed, and I haven't gotten back to it. It's currently choppy and uneven, but not in a good way.

So, after about five years of cutting my own hair (highlights include a half decent bob two years ago, and numerous fringes that look good when I cut them only to fall flat the next day), I'd decided to splash out and get a qualified professional to do it for me. I've been dreaming about the head massage, the nice-smelling products, the funny chat...and of course the easy-to-style, bouncy, polished haircut at the end of all that.

I was aiming for a fairly short style; my whole life I think the shortest it's ever been is 'bob', and I'd dearly love to be interesting and go...I don't know, Mia Farrow. Winona Ryder. Heck, Demi Moore in G.I.Jane. But then I happened upon a super cute pic of Lykke Li, hair up in a topknot:
Gorgeous, or what?! The messy topknot (or as T-Bone likes to call it, The Bobble) is my default hairstyle - quick, easy, hides a multitude of home-hairdressing sins - and I feel like it's been laughing at me from atop its lofty perch. "Haha," it cackles, "you look like you just got out of bed! Oh, you did! No time even to drag a brush through that bird's nest, then? Haha!" Evil, evil topknot. But Lykke has shown me that I needn't view it as nothing more than my default style. I should embrace it, and enjoy that it has no need for product, for heat-styling, for any large chunk of time to obtain it. Vive le Bobble!

Cute

2009-04-29T17:15:00.001+10:00

Geeze, are Michelle Williams and Spike Jonze the cutest couple, or what?

(photo: http://celebrity-moms.blogspot.com/)