Bee keeper

Despite my best attempts, I have fallen ill over the last few days. Sneezing, boxes of tissues and a red nose were a highlight of my day. Though I did manage a great yoga session before breakfast. Horrible timing but what's a girl to do but load up on sleep and vitamins.

It's been a while since I've loved an edititorial as much as this one from the April 2013 issue of Vogue Australia. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.  And it's nice to see a ANTM alumni working in the industry.  The Australian franchise seems to have produced some great talent.

LMFF starts tomorrow for me so look out for some posts.

Photos via TFS

"we all want to take our lives in our own hands and hurt them out among the starts" - David Bottoms

It took me a few days last week to adjust to the new routine.  Yes I didn't turn off my Blackberry immediately and yes I kept thinking about what was left behind, but I am starting to ease into it slowly. All the while my body clock was still waking me at 6:52 AM. 

I continued to distract myself by cleaning and ironing and continuously de cluttering. Towels, books and linen have been discarded and not replaced.  Pantry is organised and clean.  I have filed years of bills and paperwork, thrown out a box of cables that don't seem to belong to the myriad of electronic gadgets that we have.  I have dusted every corner and and finally made a good dint in the pile of delicate/handwash items in the washing basket.  I took for granted how good a week at home can really be.  A week not spent in the office, was usually spent travelling or doing activities not afforded to a 60 hour a week job.

This week I'm finally going to organise and functionalise the study (who doesn't love stationary shopping??) and clear my head, before getting into LMFF later on in the week.  The event gets better each year and I'm looking forward to reporting back about this years events. 

New York City Style Exhibition - Sex And The City Visits Chadstone

For the month of March, Chadstone is hosting and exhibiting some beautiful and iconic SATC pieces.  I have read that it was difficult to find most of the items as nobody had any idea where they were stored.  The Dior t-shirt was nowhere to be found.

I must admit that all the pieces are much more amazing on the small screen.  Worn by the much loved characters in amazing locations.  It goes to show that you shouldn't judge an item based on how it looks on a hanger.  If you're a fan of the show, I definitely recommend checking it out.  It's not often that we get items like this to enjoy in Australia.  The stores are starting to fill up with autumn and winter fashions (despite the record heat wave-today it's 38C), use it as a chance to plan your winter wardrobe....?

More info about the exhibit here.

Spring cleaning on a hot autumn day

It has easily been one of the most bitter sweet weeks of my life and thank goodness it's a long weekend because I'm just not ready for a real Monday. I finished at work on Friday. The few weeks leading up to this week involved working way past midnight, feeling anxious and unsure. I have spent years getting to where I was only to close my laptop, turn off my blackberry and walk away. Blood, sweat, tears. High highs and low, low, lows. In a way its kind of sad that our jobs become such a huge part of who we are. We spend so many hours and so much of our energy on what we DO that is starts to blur who we ARE.

I don't think the reality has hit me yet.

And of course all these crazy work hours have resulted in a neglected house. It's amazing just how much cleaning a superficially clean house needs.

I decided to tackle the kitchen today, washing and polishing all the utensils and stuffing the dish washer full with canisters and storage containers. The glass splash back also enjoyed the much needed polish.

The weather has been unbearably hot. And I say that as the person who would kill for an endless summer. Lucky the beach is a stone throw away and I went for a quick swim for a bit of relief today.

Cheat paella for dinner went down a treat.

"The summer night is like a perfection of thought" ~ Wallace Stevens

Maybe it's just me, but does summer seem to pass way too fast; while during winter, I count the slow, cold seconds.  This summer has been immensely enjoyable and the fact that we had some real and proper hot weather may have had something to do with it.  I've continued to purge my life of unnecessary STUFF (yes a common theme in my life over the past 12 months) and have made do with what I've got.  Sure I come across plenty of stuff I love, plenty of stuff I want, but when I think about it for a moment it quickly dawns on me that I don't really NEED it.  I have replaced these thoughts in my mind with great tea, iced coffee, summer fruits and going for a swim at the beach when distraction strikes. 

I had a rare day off on Sunday, where I cancelled all my commitments and appointments and went with the flow.  Sleeping in is a skill that I unfortunately greatly lack, so after forcing myself to stay in bed until 9am, I made a small stack of crispy cremes, filled with orange mascarpone and topped with berries and bananas. So easy and so yummy.  Recipe was posted here.

Following breakfast, I went for a swim at the beach.  I'm not sure I love many things more than floating around in the ocean weightlessly, relaxing on a towel in the shade afterwards and talking to my husband without any distractions from our numerous electronic devices which connect us to the world endlessly.  They are all at home!

 

Since receiving my iPad last month as a very generous gift (thanks daddy) I've tried to move onto reading my favourite publications electronically.  I'm fine with getting my daily news hit via the numerous news outlet apps that I have already acquired, but it may take me a while to enjoy magazines without the smell of fresh print laying on my coffee table.

  

I rounded off my Sunday with a trip to the cinema to see Anna Karenina.  I walked in with zero expectations and walked out having really enjoyed it.  It held it's ground thanks to the amazing costumes and wonderful casting.  I recommend it highly, whether you've read the book or not.

"Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country" ~ Anais Nin

God willing, in about 4 weeks time I am going to be a mother.  If I have learnt anything over the past few months, is that we are all different.  We deal with each mile stone in our lives completely individually.  Some things we're happy to shout from the roof tops and others we are happy to digest on our own terms.  I suppose the onset of parenthood has been one of those times for me.  In the beginning it was my own little thing.  Our own little secret and treasure.  A little miracle and blessing.

I must admit that to date most aspects of it have been relatively easy.  Maybe after the trials and tribulations of the last 10 years, the universe decided that this should be a reward.  Whatever the reasons I am eternally grateful for this experience and for my body and health holding up so well.  Apart from my little brain questioning my strength and abilities.  Ah brain, always the logical one.  I am terrified at the thought of being responsible for a new person, but at the same time excited about teaching someone about life, about kindness and responsibility and the amazing world we live in.  Showing them the way.

Washing and ironing tiny, almost doll sized clothes on a Monday night.. Wow!

Sharing cakes and laughs with friends on a Sunday afternoon.

Shopping out of season

Something I do best!

I seem to be in a perpetual mode of throwing out and selling items in my wardrobe. No matter what I buy, the old stuff is always a favourite. I'm not sure if it's my style that's changing, or the current fashions that I'm not enjoying.  The newly acquired items end up on eBay much faster than the old.  Which means I'm always wearing the same stuff.

Considering the fact that I am about to wave goodbye to my corporate day job for a while (scary story for another day) and be entirely without much disposable income as I give my brain and body a much needed rest after an intense 6 years in the home of repairing the damage, I should probably not be worrying about my wardrobe all that much, but I couldn't help myself with these newbies from Witchery.  Such cute and cosy buys for my upcoming jeans days.

I can't believe how fast summer is passing by.  January, my favourite month, is long gone.  My baby brother is 21.  Traffic is at a standstill again.  February is as busy as ever with social events and I'm desperate for a few more sunny days to spend at the beach. A linger Indian summer is requested... Why is summer always faster than winter...

Linen stripe tee - Witchery

Silk Underlay Knit - Witchery

"Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week" - Joseph Addison Read

It has been too long since I had a carefree day in Melbourne. I didn't feel like death this morning after sleeping in and enjoying a big mug of green tea with the newspapers.

I ventured out into the sunny and warm day and guilt free even reignited my love of Scanlan and Theodore. Just in time for the sale.

It's been too long.

And a big and guilt free dinner of pumpkin, ricotta, spinach ravioli and treats from Lux Bite. Bring on Monday.

Busy

 

 

 

 

Pretty peonies on my coffee table...

The glorification of "busy" has affected my life beyond measure.  How are you?  Busy!  Busy to see you, busy to go for a walk, busy to take the dog to the groomer.  Busy.




Time to make a change.  One should always find the time to do what's important to them.

Notes from Noosa

 I suppose it's fair to say that for the 11 years that I lived so close to the world's most amazing beaches I took it for granted.  When I moved away and began being tortured by the cold, I really began to miss it and eagerly awaited every chance to go back home.  6 years later, I still feel the same.   One of my favourite places to spend a couple of days on holidays is Noosa (but Byron Bay still comes first).  Noosa is simply beautiful, although can at times get hot due to being shielded in an inlet and can often be overrun by families and screaming children.  If it's not your scene, avoid the school holidays.  Or invest in some good headphones.

It has been a while since I stayed at a hotel, as I typically avoid them.  I don't enjoy paying a surplus to be harassed by overenthusiastic staff, turn down services and bell boys (as nice as being fussed over is, I prefer being left to my own devices).  I chose to stay at Noosa Heads Motel - a private and very reasonably priced accommodation, a short walk away from all the action.

The hours spent swimming, reading and walking did me a world of good.  There is nothing better than a beach holiday.

Early morning, post swim coffee at Bistro C

Sickly sweet and over indulgent serving of pancakes at Bistro C

Late night walk

Cooling off in the shade on a hot afternoon

My two lonely holiday purchases - new havs and a jewllery pouch

Cooling off with a coconut on Hastings Street

Arabian Threads caftan (a wonderful Etsy buy) and a Roberto Cavalli for Target bikini

Recent purchases - Zimmerman Summer

I think I am the most prolific out of season shopper in the universe. Each new season creeps up on me much too fast and before I know it we've moved on and I have nothing new to wear.

Case in point is my new bikini and tank top. But at least they were drastically reduced, right?

Getting away from it all

While some people prefer to end the year on holidays, I prefer to begin the year on rest. To rewrite my budget, recharge and set some goals and projects.

It's been 17 blissful days, spent mostly disconnected and for the first time in a while I did not access my work email. I was close, but I didn't.

I saw the above picture online yesterday and it absolutely described my actions. Things were hard and I ran away. And you know that's not always a bad thing. I didn't sleep much at all I'm afraid, but I felt so rested. I swam for hours each day, and hiked and walked in the stifling heat. My muscles hurt for the first time in ages, but my head didn't. I tried to absorb my surroundings. When your days are centred around reading, writing, swimming, walking and thinking, it's a bit hard to want it to end even if you're physically exhausted. Maybe the physical activities helped me to rest my mind.

I did my very best to pack light. I hadn't done any shopping leading up to summer, so packed the small selection of my old colourful favourites and took off. My tip is to always take about half of what you think you need. Being bogged down by things on holidays is no fun.

Things didn't get off to a great start due to being rushed to the airport and a few things I thought I couldn't live without we're left behind (Moroccan oil and GHD I'm looking st you), but you know what, I managed just fine.

At least my carry on was perfect - Sugar lip balm, Aesop hand cream, a big scarf to fight off the cold climate control, Tripit app updated and synced, new book to read and eye drops.

Outta town

Flying is all about loose layers. Comfortable and cool and able to be warmed up when the air con hits unbearable.

I'm off for 2 weeks of swimming, running, beaching and smelling the roses in the company of loved ones.

And a happy Christmas to all my Orthodox readers. Христос се роди x

2013

This year I will be

- more organized. My bag won't look like this on a Friday morning
- I will take time to smell the roses
- I will celebrate
- I will fear less
- I will question more
- I will say no more often
- I will double my water intake
- I will Skype my grandma
- I will file my paperwork
- I will read every email
- I will unsubscribe from a million more mailing lists
- I won't use a chair to hold my clothes. That's what a wardrobe is for
- I will declutter my skin care and make up, like I did my clothes
- I will get an iPad
- I will blog my thoughts more frequently
- I will read better quality literature
- I will turn my phone off more often
- I will not be afraid to disconnect
- I will spend more time outdoors, even if I have to wear a ski jacket to do it
- I will delete old contacts from my phone
- I will reduce expenses, so I need less but have more

I will...