Aubergine Ink

Married life

2011-06-18T03:14:00.000-07:00

I can't wash the lettuce.

Why not?

OK, I don't LIKE washing lettuce.

Fine. I'll wash the lettuce, you iron.

Done.

2011-04-28T21:01:00.000-07:00

I'm pinning away on Pinterest. Because the stripes and sequins have to be saved somewhere.

It is very addictive and I seem to have spent an inordinate amount of time naming and renaming my boards. Then changing my mind again and re-categorising completely. In fact, I may just do away with boards entirely and just collect everything onto one.

It is still in beta so if you want to try it and haven't yet you can submit your email address and wait for an invitation or let me know and I'll sent you one of the five I have.

If you've found your way here via A Safe Mooring, welcome. I blog occasionally but mostly tweet and pin.

Grand Designs

2011-04-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

Image: Crossway passive house by Hawkes Architecture

Having somewhat obsessively watched Grand Designs from the very start I've always wanted to go to the Grand Designs Live exhibition in London, but being in the wrong country does of course pose logistical problems.

Well although I still won't be going this year I did find these free (yes FREE) tickets so hopefully someone else can take them and gorge on beautiful, practical homes. And if you do happen to meet Mr McCloud, no need to share my not-so-secret obsession.

And if anyone is wondering, no; the Australian version is nowhere near as good. Not only have they not got Kevin but the builds just aren't as interesting. I still watch it though, it may get better!

P.s. Yes I am (almost) completely ignoring the fact that I disappeared for a year. As you were. xx

My next tweet

2011-04-17T03:46:00.000-07:00

So Kirsty just MADE me waste half an hour on this tool that 'predicts' what your next tweet will be;

Some err, highlights;

Well my nose isn't great but surely that's a bit harsh?

Yes. I am. Well about the same level of excited about last year actually.

I am a magnificent woman (hey, it's official). Why does anyone still bother going mad? Complete waste of time.
People pay therapists for this shit.

Sequin pants make it easier to get a job. Who knew?

It also seems to think I think about skateboarding a lot. I do not.

Well not if they're bots. I don't mind people.

I don't like shops. I do like nice online shops that deliver internationally, preferably with cheap or free delivery. Not sure how gay mums got in there though.

Well I do try. Bad image crediting is bad karma. Go here for instructions.

Ditch the marketing, train sales staff better?

Well gelatine is disgusting so if anyone ever finds jelly sweets without it do let me know.

Strangely addictive. Um, I take no responsibility if you waste your entire weekend on here.

Belly

2010-02-22T04:29:00.000-08:00

Now THIS is a belly picture...

If you haven't already, go have a look at the beautiful Rummey Bears (that's Mama Bear in the pic).

Sony World Photography Awards 2009

2010-01-20T06:25:00.000-08:00

Well worth a look.

{Source: Giuilo Di Sturco}

A proposal written in lights.

2010-01-18T17:36:00.000-08:00

When I showed this to the boy (boy? husband?) he was seriously impressed and then pointed out that it could make other proposals look slightly inadequate. If you were going to get competitive about the whole thing. Which he was not. Because he's a grown-up and there's no need to compare. And how long did it take the chap to do that then? But no need to make a competition of it all really is there?

Light Writing Proposal from Derick Childress on Vimeo.

I laughed. Yeah, welcome to the world of weddings and the inner voice husband!

For the full story on how this was done (and her answer!) have a look at Derick and Emily's site.

Pretty Pyjamas

2010-01-17T17:07:00.000-08:00

I miss good shops...

{Source: Hush}

ignore my whinging, I've just realised that they offer international postage!

On family

2010-01-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

I have the most beautiful, generous and kind grandmother. The top of her head barely reaches my shoulders and yet it wouldn't surprise me if someone told me she could move mountains.

At my wedding she gave me a little kiss and told me I was magnifique. Praise indeed.

She's raised four sons, seen grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. Her talents are numerous. She could outcook the shoutiest and starriest of chefs and tell them off for being so rude at the same time.

Now she lies in silence and we wait. I hope I get the chance to see her just one last time to tell her she is loved, she is magnifique.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all.

I hope it was filled with fireworks and bubbles or whatever else takes your fancy.

Love,
Aubergine

Aubergine Ink is now on Twitter...

2009-12-31T19:18:00.000-08:00

Hello,

I'm back and I'm on Twitter! I will also be picking up where I left off on the wedding and everything else that's happened since then (no, it doesn't involve a series of stomach photographs).

I hope you're all well and enjoying the holiday season. If not, I guarantee this little person will make you smile.

You can follow me at @aubergineink

Fly, fly away...

2009-07-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

{Source: Gwarf}

I'm going home. Truly on the way to the wedding now!

Bunny T-Shirt

2009-07-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

{Source: French Connection via The Independent}

Dear Father Christams,

I know Christmas is months away but it's cold here and it feels like it should be sooner.

I would like this t-shirt please Father Christmas. I think Peonies might also like one so could you get one for her too please?

Thank you,

Aubergine

Back to the beginning

2009-07-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

{Source: You Look Marvellous}

There's less than a month to go. We're actually leaving in just under 10 days. When I think about this my head freezes and my heart feels like it's skipped a beat or added in an extra one so I'm actively not thinking about it. Instead I thought this was probably as good a time as any to finish telling my story. Our story. Something I've been particularly slack with.

So I was up the part where the destination wedding idea had been chosen, and then rapidly binned, when civil war broke out in Thailand.

Now I know as I'm writing this that it sounds as though I am complaining about the very choices that some would love to have the chance to experience but trust me; there is such a thing as the tyranny of choice. We were painfully aware that every option had it's own pros and cons. See the lamb? That was me. Except less fluffy and more firmly attached to a Sauvignon Blanc.

Although both our families had emphasised that we should do 'what we wanted' and 'what we thought best' we felt an overwhelming responsibility to try and keep everybody happy. Because even if they only stated them very, very, quietly or not at all; we knew exactly what those little comments, looks and sighs meant. Everyone already had a little image in their own head about where it should be and what it should look like.

I knew that my mother had wanted to be more involved in my sister's wedding but for various reasons had felt a little pushed out. I also knew that as a mum of boys; my mother-in-law-to-be who'd always wanted a pretty pink, dress-wearing girl, had daydreamed about this wedding more than this particular girl had. I was never the pretty pink dress-wearing girl. I'd grown up running away from dresses straight into dungarees, trees and skinned knees so never identified with that 'princess' story but I wanted them both to get what they wanted from it too.

I really started to realise then that the wedding isn't really about you. Or your partner. It's about two families, it's about them seeing you as a grown-up, letting go, celebrating that you've made it to adulthood without them forgetting you in the cereal aisle or causing you to require several years of therapy. In perhaps the same way that a graduation ceremony isn't really about graduating; it's all about the mothers.

So trying to balance pleasing both families (i.e. mothers) whilst keeping the wedding within a manageable budget and costs down for guests just seemed impossible.
We spent that Christmas period with our families in England who wasted no time in nagging us to make a decision so they could get on with the important business of choosing frocks and selecting wine. There were many Christmas-cheer fuelled debates in front of a roaring fire ("what shall we do? I don't know! what do you think we should do? I don't know!" and on and on...) whist we endlessly debated the options. When I think back on this now I wonder why we didn't just flip a coin or pull options out of hat.

Whilst a destination wedding would have suited us given that neither of us wanted a huge white wedding, it had taken us a long time to find the the place we were initially planning on in Thailand. We currently live in Australia, about as far away as we can be from any family or friends before we'd start circling back.
Having the wedding here would certainly have been the easiest option for us in terms of planning but the flight and accommodation costs would have been prohibitive for many people, especially our friends. It would also have meant that we would have had to wait another year for the summer as the seasons are back to front!

So we were back to the first option; a wedding in France close to my grandparents' village. The downside to this was the practicality of it. It's literally in the middle of nowhere. We would have to plan accommodation for everyone from the other side of the world. But as soon as we'd agreed on it, it felt right. It was easy (and fairly inexpensive) for guests from England, it meant that my grandparents would be there and it definitely would not be formal. Perfect.

Of course that brought up the next problems - venues? How exactly do you organise a wedding in France from the other side of the world?

Happy Weekend

2009-06-27T20:38:00.000-07:00

My current mantra:

{Source: Things We Forget}

Best wedding invitation. Ever.

2009-06-18T06:37:00.000-07:00

{Source: Metal Mother}

No scrolls, no bows. Just a beautiful story and pure font-y goodness. Designed by the groom himself.
Best. Invite. Ever.

Beautiful bridesmaids

2009-06-16T06:50:00.000-07:00

{Source: Bespoke Press}

I love the casual way that these bridesmaids' dresses complement each other whilst each being quite individual. It's set off that little inner dialogue again and making me seriously wonder whether I should have been more serious about having 'proper' bridesmaids.

Ruffles and pleats

2009-06-08T17:16:00.000-07:00

I love Jeff Ascough's photography style. It's classic but he always manages to catch the quirky details too.

Isn't the train on this dress amazing?

{Source} Jeff Ascough

Home sweet home

2009-06-08T04:47:00.000-07:00

Things I love about our new house;

it has a proper grown-up study. Or at least it will have when I get around to finding a desk and bookshelves to put in it.

it has beautiful high ceilings that make the house feel spacious and make me feel like I can b-r-e-a-t-h-e

the guest bedroom is as far away from the main bedroom as it can be without being an outbuilding. If you've ever had guests stay for an extended period of time, you'll know just how good a feature this is.

lastly, and most beautifully, the morning light throws out this pattern from the glass by the front door;

so SlightlyEvilLandlord; thank you for evicting us. We love our new house for all the reasons I've listed but mostly because it feels like a home. And that is the hardest thing to find when you're renting.

Unexpected mail....

2009-06-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

As the last piece of unexpected post I received was the eviction notice from the SlightlyEvilLandlord, I was a little wary when I opened our new letterbox for the first time and found a tiny. unexpected package.

Inside was this mysterious little box:

and inside the box was this:

a silver sixpence from my mother-in-law-to-be to place in my shoe on the wedding day.

It's not often you hear people say the last line of that saying. Although we're not incorporating many traditions into our wedding this little piece of silver shininess delighted my inner-magpie.

Time does not need another clock...

2009-05-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

As the wedding approaches with what seems to be alarming speed, I seem to be losing the grip on my perception of time.

The days are faster, the weeks go by in a blur. On Fridays I make ambitious plans and lists of what I will achieve that weekend and I seem to wake up a moment later on Monday morning to start the week again.

It's a confusing mixture of Groundhog Day and the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland rushing around saying "no time, no time".

I've also noticed that the dreams seem to be getting worse and more frequent. Recent highlights have included; being chased by my mother-in-law to be with her wielding a shotgun as the seating plan was not to her liking, and waking up five minutes before the ceremony and realising I hasn't bought any underwear suitable to wear with my dress. Then discovering that all the underwear in the world had disappeared so I had to walk down the aisle knowing that everyone could see me. The dress was by then somehow see-through too.

It doesn't require a student debt to rival the GDP of Africa to analyse these and I can already see the funny side of it sometimes. I realise that these are just variations on the classic turning-up-to-school naked stress-fests but is this really necessary wedding gods? Really?

Congratulations Jessica!

2009-05-06T06:50:00.000-07:00

Jessica and Eric of Budget Savvy Bride just got married...

Congratulations Jessica! Aren't her photos gorgeous? I love this one in particular.

{Source: Chris and Adrienne Scott for Evin Photography}

This made me smile and smile and smile...

2009-05-05T05:52:00.000-07:00

The look of wonder on the elderly lady's face is just priceless.

Neverending Invitations - Part (iii)

2009-05-03T01:42:00.000-07:00

Whilst I never thought I'd be insane enough to dedicate a whole post to ribbon, now that I know I'm not the only person who lost sleep wondering whether they had ordered the correct width; I thought this might be useful for someone.

I ordered six rolls of 7mm silk ribbon from Cam Creations who were very easy to deal with and even taking into account postage to the other side of the world, it was much cheaper and probably quicker than ordering it locally.

From left to right they are; navy, lavender, purple, cornflower, mauve, and dusky rose.

They were actually really difficult to photograph accurately as they have a slight sheen that seems to throw of the colours. The purple is actually a very intense violet like you might find in an orchid and the navy is more of a peacock shade than a nautical navy.

The ribbon itself has the softest silkiest texture which makes it great fun to play with but not so great fun to try and tie around 150 invitations and unfortunately neither I nor the boy have mad ribbon skills so after a few I gave up and bought some stiffer grosgrain ribbon which was much easier to tie around the invitation;

so as I've still got plenty of ribbon left that will probably be used to tie napkins or in the Order of Service depending on how much patience I have left!

Neverending Invitations - Part (ii)

2009-05-03T01:39:00.001-07:00

Although I would be happy to try some sort of experimental treatment to erase the memory (Total Recall style) of The Invitation Saga from my brain, that hasn't unfortunately happened so as I promised; here is a picture of The Most Hated Invitations Ever.

If you squint really hard and tilt your head slightly so as to off-set the wonkiness they don't look too bad.

The details: There are two cards per set; one in English and one in French, The RSVP information is on the reverse and they're tied together with a variety of ribbons. I had originally ordered six different coloured rolls of silk ribbon from Cam Creations. If you have a look on their site you'll see why I wasn't very good at narrowing it down to two or three options...

Unfortunately I now have about one hundred REALLY rubbish ones that I can't quite bring myself to throw out. I'm considering lopping off the tops to use as as tags or place cards. Any better ideas for what I could do with them?