The House That A-M Built

Little Kitchen

2012-01-27T05:13:00.001+10:00

The latest issue of 'House Of Fifty' is out and it features this sweet little kitchen, in a one bedroom condo in San Francisco. The sink area was designed to resemble a hutch. Doesn't it?!... with it's glass fronted doors giving it a real furniture feel. I LOVE the grey tiles and the elegant bench top. Will I ever tire of grey and white? Ever?

High ceilings, vintage chandelier, transoms and lots of light. Who says you need lots of space for glamour? Some wonderful inspiration for my next project.

Take a peek at the bathroom. Cabinetry, tiles, fixtures? ... perfection.

You can find more of this beautiful space HERE.

Oh and there are heaps more beautiful kitchens to drool over in that issue as well!

Happy Friday!

We had our Australia Day holiday here yesterday. We made the most of the break in the rain and headed out to our nearest National Park for a BBQ picnic... and to look for bugs. The streams were roaring due to the recent rains so the boys were in their element.... but boy, was it humid! The rain is back today, with the forecast of a cyclone developing up north. Hmmm....my little lad heads off on school camp next week. I will be biting my nails if this weather keeps up. :(

Those School Lunches

2012-01-25T06:56:00.003+10:00

Image Courtesy www.john.curtin.edu.au

Following on from your comments/emails requesting info on what I put in my boy's lunches, here's the drum.

Firstly, I was a Dietitian-Nutritionist in my previous life. A Paediatric Dietitian. Not much use to me now, building houses, flogging lights and such.... but no education is wasted I say.... even after five long, hard, technical years at Uni (including a Science degree thrown in for good measure). I have a wonderful knowledge base that comes in quite useful at times ... particularly during school science homework. Getting up into the higher grades, my big son now thinks I am a font of knowledge. It's easy to impress him at his age. The contents of PL365 Advance Hormonal Endocrinology and BC306 Animal Biochemistry would impress any knowledge thirsty 14 year old. That BC 306 was my only Biochemistry High Distinction.....ever.... I loved that subject... it was all vitamin biochemistry... it was what made me decide to do Dietietics. Just sayin'.

I digress.

Image Courtesy Before Our Time

So, considering my 'long ago' background.... I send my boys off to school with a fair whack of nutrition....something not much different to the 'Oslo' lunch from the 1940's..... a variation on the wholemeal cheese and salad sandwich, fresh fruit and milk product of some sort. No magic ingredient there..... just a nice balance of complex carbohydrates, protein and fat.

Image Courtesy www.john.curtin.edu.au

Every day they get some sort of wholemeal/wholegrain sandwich, pita bread, or wrap. They love wraps. I fill them full of salad.... lettuce wrapped around tomato (so the whole thing doesn't go soggy), grated carrot, sprouts... with some cheese or ham. Little one gets some mayo on his and big son...taco sauce. Loves it!

I sit these wraps on the bottom of the esky/lunchbox, on the first of two icepacks I use to keep everything safe from food poisoning bugs. Always wary of the bugs.

Image Courtesy www.john.curtin.edu.au

Next?.. always a whole piece of fruit - apple/pear/banana/mandarine or fresh pineapple pieces.

Then a second serving of fruit in the form of an easy homemade fruit salad ....grapes/blueberries/strawberries/diced orange/kiwi fruit... whatever is in the bottom of the fridge and needs using up.

Image Courtesy vintagegoodness.blogspot.com

I always pack 2 serves of fruit, one for morning tea, one for lunch. I stay away from muesli bars, dried fruit, fruit straps or any other fruit bars as despite their 'health tags' they are full of sugar and tragic for beautiful developing teeth and lean active little bodies.

Next - the milk product - either a fruit yoghurt or full cream UHT milk popper or both (my boys eat heaps, so it's often both). I use the little UHT milk poppers just in case little one is full.... he has been instructed to bring anything he doesn't eat home...one, so I can see what he likes and doesn't like and two, so I can salvage and reuse, say if it is the popper or whole apple or something that can't have spoiled during the day. Big one loves the Sanitarium UP and Go's so he gets them as a treat. I cannot fill that boy.

I use full cream milk products as my boys are growing and need the fat.

Image Courtesy today.msnbc.msn.com

Next the 'snacky' things. They vary daily but the staples are:

cherry tomatoes (especially the Perino ones from Coles)... my little one LOVES them.
carrot sticks with light cream cheese or salsa
cheese cubes/cheesestick/little tub of baby bocconchini - little tubs, my boys love opening cute little tubs... I make it fun.
ricecrackers/corn thins
homemade popcorn
home made something - banana muffins/the old staple jam drop/oat slice/anzac biscuits

Drinks - we don't do fruit juice - looking after their teeth and teaching them life long habits about not drinking kilojoules. Just water and milk. They need kilojoules to grow but I am teaching them the best sources of those kilojoules and the well known concept of 'empty calories' in junk foods that provide no nutrition.

Don't get me wrong, they eat junk. 'There is a time and a place' as they say... but their school lunches, to me, are vitally important to nourish them and teach them about making good food choices. They look around and compare their lunches to others.. what kid doesn't? They get it. Little one has expressed deep concern for one little tike who gets 4 packets of chips and a soft drink in his lunch box every day. The mind boggles.

Big one does tuckshop on Guitar Ensemble days as he is out the door at 6.30am. He confesses to a treat or two... or three... but he does source the sushi or something 'wholemeal-ish' for his main feed. The brainwashing is working. He's honest. You let out the reigns and see if what you have taught them rubs off. It does, if you have been consistent.

Oh and I forgot, the last thing I put in.... before the top icepack to keep it all frosty cold.... is an 'I Love You/I'm Proud Of You' note. Very important. Nourishes their hearts.

Happy Wednesday. It's raining today. Big time. I am heading up to a display village with a client to scheme her 'soon to be new home'!

Memory Lane

2012-01-24T05:37:00.001+10:00

As this blog of mine has really become a journal of my life, interspersed with house images I hyperventilate over, I had to do this. I had to go back and find some photos of my boys 4 years ago.... as I was very emotional at our first day back at school yesterday. Time is flying and it all really hit me yesterday.

I was a mess as I watched my big boy walk up the road to spend his last year in Middle School..... and my little one looked so lonely waiting for his new class to arrive. His year is an 'intake year' so the grade population has doubled with new boys... all looking rather lonely and scared too. I cried for the scared little new boys too. I cried for everyone.

Little tacker is now wearing those shorts his big brother is wearing and you can actually see skin on his legs now! He has graduated to the big shorts that need a belt and he wore his first school belt with such pride yesterday. He said he felt really big and grown up. I forgot about the belt thing.... well I remembered when they started school holidays and went rummaging for the hand me down belt shorts, laying them out ready for school in the new year... but the belt.... forgot all about it. We did some creative 'belting' yesterday morning as the big son's one was handed down and we hunted for something suitable for big son to wear!

Fully belted!... and proud as punch in his brother's 'big shorts'.

There's the esky. It was full to the brim there and empty on return.

Day Two. I am making the most spectacular school lunches, even if I say so myself. Big son has offered to do them but I have a need to pour love into my boys in the form of lovingly made school lunches for a while. I am sure I'll hand over the reigns a few months down the track. You can do the ironing instead big son.

It's a rainy day here. Rats. School is not much fun in the rain. Can't run around and be boys.

Happy Tuesday!

I'll Miss Them

2012-01-23T05:06:00.000+10:00

It's back to school today :(

Our carefree days are over. We all have to get back to work... even the grown ups!

This photo was taken 4 years ago, when my little tacker first started shool. I am going to come back to this post this afternoon and load up a photo of the two of them now. The height difference now is significant.... boy, did my big son grow over the holidays! Yesterday we officially ruled that he is now taller than his Mum. We headed into town yesterday to buy him a new esky.... as a lunchbox could not contain what that boy eats now.

They're excited. All their school clothes were laid out last night... and not under my direction. I heard a commotion while a lost hat was frantically searched for and mutterings that 'a Saturday detention was not a great way to start the school year'. It was found. We also found the lost library book that was added to my term fees each term last year while we searched for it. Phew! I was lamenting about how broke I was going to be today.... as Term One fees are due by this afternoon. Big son said, "Mum, I'll make it all worth it. I'm going to work really hard again this year. Promise." He will too. They both will. Their schooling is the best investment I have ever made.

So I'm off to make the first round of school lunches for the year. Going to have to do my run in the dark now.. to fit everything into the morning schedule.

Have a great day today everyone. I am so sentimental this year....almost teary about them going back to school..... as I know these 'back to school days' will end one day. They grow up soooo fast. Slow down 'Mr Time', slow down!

Happy Monday!

Stopping In The Moment

2012-01-21T05:30:00.000+10:00

Despite the sunshine this week, these are photos from our first couple of days here. I love a wild and moody beach!

Oh it's been good to sit and ponder the ocean. Stare out into the ocean long enough and you find the answers and solutions to all sorts of things. It puts everything in your life into perspective.

It was great to have some contemplative time before the hectic school year begins. The boys frolicked and I pondered. I frolicked, the boys pondered..... they had to....I took their computer games off them for the week....so they had to engage in old fashioned pursuits such as reading, swimming, looking for pippies.... and sitting on the beach looking slightly bored at times. Good. Boredom breeds creativity.

So today is our last day of our 'forever' holidays. I used to call them the 'forever' holidays when I was a tike... because at the beginning, before Christmas, it feels like you have forever. They go so fast though these days, at today's pace. They never did when I was a kid... they dragged on forever... maybe because we didn't have much... and you really had to make your own fun....without technology, TV and computers.... things that steal time from you.

Knowing that our holidays are coming to an end, I know I am going to be doing the whole 'stop time and freeze frame every last moment' thing today. I am a 'sentimental fool' on 'last days'.

Do you ever have those moments?.. when you stop and think, "right now, in this moment, I am grateful. I have everything I want and everything I need".

Right now, right at this very moment, most likely you do.

Those are the moments in life where you find true happiness I reckon!

Happy Weekend! Lots to do... so I will see you Monday!

Random Thoughts On Bathrooms Whilst On Holidays

2012-01-19T14:41:00.001+10:00

Image Courtesy Small Rooms, Tumblr

Isn't this gorgeous? I love 'bath nooks'. I spent last night freeze-framing a movie I was watching just to draw a rough sketch of the beautiful bathroom nook that was featured. I love the cabinetry too. It's nice to see functional cabinetry, something other than just a vanity unit/sink, in a bathroom.

Bathroom food for thought!

The weather down here at the beach has been glorious. We literally spent 4 hours in the ocean this morning. My little one was positively joyous in the waves, reaching out for me when the big ones hit. I have been cherishing our carefree time together. School starts back on Monday so we're savouring every last morsel of these holidays.

I'm off to the casino with friends tonight!

The boys are praying for a 'young and funky' babysitter. They had 'Mrs Doubtfire' last time!

Random Kitchen Thoughts Whilst On Holiday

2012-01-18T07:37:00.005+10:00

Image Via Pinterest

I seriously would love a skylight of some sort in my next kitchen. I love this. I love how the lights are a part of the skylight. Jury is still out on the choice of lights though.

The problem is, with this set up, I wouldn't be able to have a second floor above the kitchen... and knowing that my next block is not going to be much more than 600sqm, I am going to need as much floorspace on the second level as I can. I might do an L shaped 'back of the house' and have the kitchen sticking out the back, ending the second floor above just before the kitchen. What do you reckon? Love it? Hate it? I suppose I would have to consider how hot the thing would get and if I would get sunburnt peeling the veges.... seeing as we live in the skin cancer capital of the world.

Despite the first few days of wild weather (which is par for the course whenever we holiday), we are whooping it up down here at the beach. My boys are calling this place, where we are staying, 'DON'T'... as we are not allowed to do anything, according to all the signs. It's hilarious. Certainly memorable. We rebelled yesterday and boogie boarded in the pool. We also moved the pool furniture around slightly and didn't put it back.

This is the beautiful day we have been given today.

Grateful.

I'm just about to strap on my soggy shoes (from yesterday's run in the rain) and run along that path!

Happy Wednesday!

We're On Holiday...

2012-01-17T08:22:00.000+10:00

.... that's if we're allowed!

Glad we brought the ball, frisbee and boogie boards!

Hmmm, lots of rules.

Hopefully we're allowed to have fun!

Love 'em!

A bit late posting this morning. Took advantage of the overcast skies and the cool breeze and did my run a little bit later than I usually do. It was glorious. The seas are that beautiful emerald green.... when the dark rain clouds hover low over it. I ran for an hour through on and off rain showers. Nothing like a run in the rain to feel really alive.

We're off to give these boogie boards a bash. The waves are good. Please go slow 'Mr Last Week of School Holidays'.

Happy Tuesday!

Monday Nook And Clutter Busting

2012-01-16T05:51:00.000+10:00

Image Courtesy Dominique Paul Mercadante Architecture

Now, isn't this the most perfect home office, work nook? Plenty of storage space and just enough desk space for the essentials. A great way to keep the clutter at bay. If you don't have the room, you have less chance of filling it up with 'stuff'. Well, that's how it sort of works for me, having lived in a smaller space over the past 18 months!

I am having a great time sorting, decluttering and packing up my life for my house move in a few weeks time. It feels so good to do an inventory of your possessions and ruthlessly remove any that are not "useful or beautiful". Thank you William Morris.

I'm using Courtney's 'Five in Ten Rule' from her blog, 'Be More With Less', for not only my wardrobe but my kitchen bits and pieces as well....... and books and magazines lying around.....pulling out five items (that I haven't worn or used in the time I have been in my current abode), in ten minutes, and then boxing them up for my favourite charity: www.giveit.org.au.

I keep in mind many of Courtney's clutter busting 'Mini Missions', that I have participated in over the past year or so, as I sort and pack up my home. Her 'One Is Enough' challenge has really helped me pare down my makeup bibs and bobs... but like most... a girl has to have more than one lipstick and polish! The essentials have been easy to pare down to one though.

We have one week left of the school holidays.... so yesterday, while we were mooching around wondering how we were going to make the last week of holidays memorable, we spontaneously decided to spend it down at the beach. The last hurrah of sorts. We're heading off there today.... after a quick trip to 'the shed' of course... to send out some stuff. I'll blog from the beach :)

Happy Monday!

Sundays In Paris - A Little Bit Of Paris At Home

2012-01-15T06:59:00.001+10:00

Up the 'Paris End Of Latrobe Terrace', here in Brisbane, is Daryl's gorgeous shop, 'Du Monde'.

Daryl held his fabulous, bi-annual 'Footpath Sale' yesterday, so my friend and I got there early.

Before I waffle, I need to say that I am eyeing off that gorgeous chair in his store window.

Daryl has his furniture custom made you know. Deep sigh.

Let's start with the important stuff... our nail polish matched.

No really, if you live in or near Brisbane and seriously miss Paris... hang out with Daryl.

He goes to Paris all the time and sources the most exquisite and unusual things.

Everything has a story.

These beautiful monogrammed pillowcases have been traced back to a convent in Ireland.

These were made from a roll of mangle cloth from almost a century ago.

They felt so beautiful.... and still had that lovely 'as new' luster.

Look!.... Paris books and stuff.

... and true blue, dinky di Parisian perfumes.. which smelt heavenly.

I wore every one of them all at once.

I pounced on some little 'French Bee' salt and pepper shakers amongst these treasures.

Beautiful faux flowers and urns....and Daryl's hand to the right.

He was in his 'shed clothes' so was not ready for his 'closeup'.

I know all about 'shed clothes' ...so I understood completely.

Some local artists thrown in for good measure.

Some baskets I snapped up.

One can never have too many baskets, I say....

..."or cushions", my friend said...

... taking advice from Faux Fuchsia, Brisbane's 'cult blogger'...

...... who "never knowingly undercushions". Ref: FF, 2010

NB. My friend bought all of those... too much of a bargain to pass up... so she took the lot.

We stopped for a brief 4 hour coffee after our shopping...

.. and enjoyed the view.

That tall building on the horizon, to the left is my suburb...

... so I'm not far from Brisbane's 'little bit of Paris' at all.

If you need a regular dose of Daryl's exquisite taste... his blog can be found HERE.

Happy Sunday!

Magic At Home

2012-01-14T04:54:00.001+10:00

These school holidays are just flying by.

We are packing in as much as we can before they end.

It's been a big week.

We've found frogs...

... and long legged, green things...

....which we searched high and low for...

... everywhere.

Pretty much every day.

We've investigated the properties of bark......really close up...

...and bushwalked in the searing midday heat... in thongs.

All part of the search.

We've ridden our bikes everywhere....

... and cooled off with milkshakes in coffee shops.

We've lain on the grass by the pool and discussed the sky...

.. and watched the sunset over the river.

It's been a beautiful week.

I'm off to Daryl's Footpath Sale with a friend this morning.... early! No run today... just chatter and coffee. The sun is coming up so I'd best get moving!

Happy Saturday!

Ken, One Year On

2012-01-13T05:38:00.003+10:00

Remember Ken?

His home went under in the floods.. up to the windows on the second floor.

He lost all his possessions... salvaged a few.

Well, Ken is in good spirits these days.

He has a new front door, thanks to the Body Corporate.

Still no floors downstairs.

.. and that hot water system we got connected for him is motoring along fine.

He has little piles of flood damaged stuff everywhere... that he is "working on".

January 2010.

The flood waters got up to where the walls are missing.... on the second floor.

Flood mud in the wall cavities as you can see.

January 2012.

Ken's got a new kitchen, complete with walls.... and artwork.

Still needs to move the fridge upstairs from near the front door!

No rush.

Flood mud.

Ken chose plush ruby red carpet for the stairs and the living room upstairs.

Oh how he loves his red carpet!

There are lovely new tiles on the floor in the second bedroom..

which Ken uses as a dining room, so he doesn't spill food on his beautiful new carpet.

Progress throughout the year.

Flood line on the second floor

Ken got all these groovy new gadgets from Lifeline ...which have all been mounted high up on the wall... almost above the flood line. The water got up to approx the level of the second shelf....this is on the second floor.

Ken's very proud of his new organising system.

I spy a couple of salvaged photos :)

There are still reminders...

My little one was very quiet during the tour. He was really spooked by the flood....still asks me if it will flood when the river is high, as it washes over the footpath in front of our place at real high tide.

He perked up when Ken started discussing stick insects.

Still a bit to do... downstairs, non living spaces have not been touched... but they are free of mud and have walls! Ken is in good spirits and is enjoying his new things. He has tried to wash the mud off his CD collection... "but they don't work".

He says that his home is "much better than it was before".

It's been a long year for Ken.

This Time Last Year

2012-01-11T20:28:00.000+10:00

Our street

Our park

Waters receding

The clean up

Our neighbourhood

The street I am currently living in... one year ago.

We fared well.

All we lost were our basement belongings.

If the river had peaked where it was supposed to have peaked, it would have been over my bed.

Our pets were safe...

... and all we had to worry about was the inconvenience of no power or hot water for 3 weeks.

All our utilities went under in the basement... and they took ages to fix.

Even after power was restored, it was limited.

It was summer, so it was hot....

.....but we had no mud so we were so, so grateful.

Orleigh Park West End - before.

Images Courtesy www.abc.net.au

After

Riverfront homes, West End - before

After

The arrow marks where I was living in West End.

West End was the first inner city suburb to be evacuated.

After

This is a pretty amazing documentary on 'The Flood of 2011'.

This is just Part One.

Parts Two to Seven are available on the Part One YouTube Side Bar.

Come back on Friday to see how Ken is faring, one year on.

Little Treasures...

2012-01-11T05:38:00.001+10:00

...on my morning run (hello 'happy house!)....

...and in my inbox:

"One option is to struggle to be heard whenever you're in the room...

Another is to be the sort of person who is missed when you're not.

The first involves making noise. The second involves making a difference."

Courtesy of Seth

Seth stops me in my tracks every time.

Happy Wednesday!

Inspired By The Best

2012-01-10T06:50:00.000+10:00

Rather tragic attempt at whiting out the words on the page!

We had a 'Limited Edition Family Meeting' last weekend (do you like that? my boys thought of the title!). Our definition of a 'LEFM' (Limited Edition Family Meeting) is: the first family meeting of the year, in which you 'pull out the big guns' and dream big, make big goals, be totally honest with each other and share and document your plans/hopes/dreams for the year and beyond.

Before we set our goals/shared our dreams, I shared with my boys something that really resonated with me from Timothy Ferriss' book, 'The 4- Hour Work Week'.

Under the heading, 'Doing the Unrealistic Is Easier Than Doing the Realistic', Tim says, "Having an unusually large goal is an adrenaline infusion that provides the endurance to overcome the inevitable trials and tribulations that go along with any goal. Realistic goals, goals restricted to the average ambition level, are uninspiring and will only fuel you through the first or second problem, at which you throw in the towel. If the potential payoff is mediocre or average, so is your effort". Tim says, "if you choose a goal because it is realistic, you won't have the enthusiasm to jump even the smallest hurdle to accomplish it.... but you'll find that you are prepared to do battle for a dream that is worth dreaming".

I love this attitude... aim for the stars, aim big... and you'll find a way, you'll find the fortitude to get over those hurdles, to achieve what you want.

I read it out loud. There was nodding. 'Little one' got it....and boy did he dream big!... actually we all did. We shared our current feelings about ourselves and each other (a heavy duty 'feelings check') and suggested things we could improve on to make the family work better. I learnt about my boys hopes and dreams. It was pretty emotional for me actually. What mother doesn't get a tear in her eye when her children get that faraway look when they are sharing their life dreams. Special stuff. What I wouldn't give for a magic fairy wand to grant their wishes and make all their dreams come true.

We're going to file away our notes from our 2012 LEFM and visit them at the same time next year. It will be great to see how far we have come...all the while keeping our dreams and goals close to our hearts and at the forefront of our minds throughout the year.

This was our 'Limited Edition Family Meeting List of Questions', created by all of us. We are going to revisit these every year:

1. What are the things I like best about myself? (little one scribbled furiously!!)

2. What are the things I like the least about myself?

3. What are the things I like the best about/and the least about, Mum, brother, father, 'insert other family member here', etc?

4. What are the most fun things I'd like to do as a family /or with one person this year? (looks like I'll be doing a bit of 'Laser Force' this year)

5. What are my biggest, most whopping dreams for my life?

6. Where do I see myself in 5 years?

7. Where do I see myself in 10 years?

8. What do I really want to achieve for myself this year?

9. What is the one thing I will change, or work on, this year?

10. What do I want my family to achieve this year?

We discussed our answers after we had answered the whole lot. It's good to confess your limitations and encourage each other's strengths. There was great honesty. There were giggles... and amends. It was good. Even Brian and Nigella got a mention via proxy.

It's great ammo for mid week fights too, "hey, remember you said sorry for that behaviour in the FM and said you were going to work on it?". Family meeting promises = big guns. Can't argue with a FM promise... it's like a 'pinky promise'.

Reading from Mr Covey's book.

We vary our meeting venues!

Do you sit down as a family and discuss how you're doing, where you're heading, how you can make your family better? I got the idea from Steven Covey's book, "The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Families". Mr Covey believes that "strong families just don't happen, but need the combined energy, talent, desire, vision and dedication of all their members". Our little weekly meetings are a safe place where we can be honest, share our feelings, 'level' with each other (without fear of judgement or argument) ... and make amends. When we 'level' with someone who did something that upset us, there is no reply from that someone at that moment. That someone just has to listen and acknowledge that the person who is sharing the level has been heard....something great we learnt through my husband's rehabilitation this year. It is so so sweet to hear my little boy say to me "I hear you Mum", "support you Mum".

My boys are good communicators. I am hoping these meetings keep the communication channels open as they become young men. It's great to take time out of our busy lives, make time to really listen to each other and acknowledge each other's needs. I always keep in mind, what Mr Covey says..... "when you raise your children, you are also raising your grandchildren". Great, great book.

Collecting my boys today.... they have been at Grans for a couple of days. It has been bliss, the serenity... but I did miss them terribly. The 'missing them' bit will wear off 5 minutes after we all walk in the door at home though. They fight now. I have a teenager. He's a teaser! One of the things I am working on, with gritted teeth, now that I have a teenager in the house...... "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff"... and there's plenty of it!!!!

Happy Tuesday!

Monday Nook

2012-01-09T06:12:00.000+10:00

How about a little nook from my place this morning?

I know it looks messy but I know where everything is! This is my little dressing table, where I keep my treasures. It's where I create the 'mood of the day'.....with my perfume (certain perfumes make me stronger and braver, and others make me feel creative and inspired) and 'embellishments'. I keep all my little love notes from my boys on a pin board at the back. Well actually some of them are 'I'm sorry' notes that I will keep forever and bring out at their 21st birthday parties!

Despite once having a little online accessories store, I tend to wear the same things all the time....things that are special to me and mean something. My boys gave me a little necklace that they called 'The Circle Of Hope' (their words) that I have not taken off for months. It's working.

They also gave me this gorgeous watch for Christmas. I love it to bits.

It's one of those wrap around jobbies.

These go way back. I am revisiting gold. It's been a while.

So yes, a few of my little treasures. Do you have a little 'mood of the day' nook?... a place where you finish up getting ready for the day?.. where you put on your scents and pretties? I'll be packing up mine soon and creating a new one in my next place!

Heading out to the shed this morning. No jewellery. Very non glamorous. Will be wearing a perfume that gives me energy and strength!

Happy Monday!

Sundays..... In Paris

2012-01-08T06:31:00.001+10:00

How about we just wander this morning.

Pop into a bookstore....

.....and do some window shopping...

Frocks aside, I am loving those lights.

Hi puss!

... and pigeon?

We pay Monsieur for his authentic Parisian music.

Well, look where we have ended up!

When in Paris.....

Let's have breakfast.

I'll have the hot chocolate with mine.

We read while we wait... and learn something.

Goodness, you could stand a spoon up in it.

No really.

Pure liquid chocolate.

Serious damage.

It's not too busy.

Good time to be in Paris... before the summer.

They're setting up for the summer dining crowds outside.

Quick, let's check out the powder room before we leave....

....I've heard it's posh....

...and grab some take-away macaroons.... that we can scoff while we wander.

"I'll never get over the flowers", I mutter, with a mouth full of macaroon.

Ok, let's do Ralph Lauren some justice.

This is gonna take a while.

Will share next week!

Happy Sunday!

The Guy In The Glass

2012-01-07T06:00:00.002+10:00

The Guy in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf*,

And the world makes you King for a day,

Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,

Who judgement upon you must pass.

The feller whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear up to the end,

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,

And think you're a wonderful guy,

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the guy in the glass.

*pelf \PELF\ , noun:

Money; riches; gain; -- generally conveying the idea of something ill-gotten.

. . .a master manipulator who will twist and dodge around the clock to keep the privileges of power and pelf.

You Must Tell Me Everything Or Else

2012-01-06T19:58:00.001+10:00

A little bit of blogging reality. It's not all sunshine and roses and Nespressos behind the scenes folks.
Sometimes it sucks!

I share little bits of my life with you each day. I tell you about things that make my heart stop, things that inspire me, things about my business and my love of beautiful homes. I have also had some heartbreak in my life and my life has changed considerably over the time I have kept this blog. Who's life hasn't? I happen to think my life is great. I try to look at everything with a positive outlook and live 'as if'. I don't think that I am fake or not who I am on this blog. This blog is me. Really.

Why do I say all this? ....

...anonymous, misinformed, slanderous commenters who visit me from time to time. I ignore them mostly....'starve them of oxygen'.... as recommended by my blog friends who have also been on the receiving end of these cowardly anonymous attacks.

The reason I am even bringing this is up is I have been questioning... where do you draw the line?... ...between sharing interesting aspects of your life and intimately private parts of your life that you reserve for immediate family and your closest friends.

My 'nasties' actually demand of me that I spill the beans about my marriage, why I sold 'the house', why I am moving and seem to be demanding a truth that isn't there. It's not really that interesting. Things have happened... but that's life (my life) and it's not magazine worthy gossip. There is no conspiracy. What you see is what you get.

It's hard not to get defensive. I know I don't have to answer to anyone. I know that. But this stuff hurts my heart. It really does.....

....so..... I have not taken up with homeless men 'to make myself feel better'!!!!!..... I just happen to like people and feel compassion for others who struggle, I respect my boy's father and respect his privacy.... and my house was a great success on all fronts and has inspired me to do it all again in spite of aggressive, misguided comments asserting the contrary.

So what more do these people want from me? This is me. This is who I am. Why do I have to give them more? It puzzles me why some feel it necessary to demand the most intimate details of my life while making the most dogmatic, incorrect accusations against me and my family.... as if they know a truth that I don't.

Where do I go from here? How about we do a deal, anonymous commenters? You tell me your financial position, your intimate family details, all about your marriage and why you do everything you do..... hang on, cancel that, how about we just start with you telling me who YOU are?

Sunshine and roses will continue tomorrow.
Sweet dreams lovelies.

And The Planets Aligned

2012-01-06T06:19:00.001+10:00

Look how beautiful it was here in Brisbane on Wednesday. It was a gooood day. Mild temperatures, gentle breeze. Positive outcomes.

I knew there was something in the air as soon as a few of my readers messaged me, saying that they felt I was going to find a place in which to live that very day!

I did! We're leaving West End...... and moving a little further out of the city... to live in a house and to enjoy some green space and lots of bike tracks.... while I look for some land and get the next house started. My boys are very happy with our decision. Little one was quietly whispering to me, as we were inspecting the new place, "please, please". Easy decision. He had me at "please".

In the meantime, we plan to seriously treasure our last few weeks here.

I am going to miss watching the sun come up over the river....

... and watching it set.

I am going to miss having my coffee on my deck....

... and feeling safe in my little 'concrete bunker' on rainy, stormy days.

I am going to miss the beautiful view....

... and the warming western sun in my kitchen.

I am going to miss my daily runs through all the little streets...

... and all the little daily surprises.

I am going to miss being able to ride into town for my errands.

I am going to miss Justine's coffee shop.... which became my morning office workspace.

Bye-bye Justine's Haloumi Special

I am going to miss Bill....

... and James.

West End, I have enjoyed you and I will carry my West End experiences (good, bad and seriously tragic) with me in my heart always. I am grateful to have called you home, even for a short time.

On the packing front, I do have this 'packing thing' mastered. It takes me no time to pack up a house these days! I think our poor piano finally will deserve a tune after this move. It will have been moved 7 times without a tune #howslackami. Big son informed me that it is a whole tone out now. It sounds woeful!

Righto, deep breaths. Time to start sorting, decluttering and packing.....aaaaand loving it!

Happy Friday!

P.S I have a teeny, tiny garden in my next place. Just teeny... but green! The boys have acres in which to play. Our place is in a green estate...that has a beautiful pool, lots of land on which to kick our soccer balls and kilometres of bike tracks. Nice change. Variety is the spice of life... and we're livin' it alright.

Notes From The Universe

2012-01-05T05:28:00.000+10:00

Courtesy Dear You, Love Me

Look what landed in my inbox last night:

"If you were able to look back at your most brilliant successes, stunning comebacks, amazing catches, and smokin' ideas, A-M, and you were to find that virtually all of them seemed to materialize out of thin air, when you least expected them, and that they had exceeded even your greatest expectations at the time, how excited would you be about the new year and whatever else I've got up my sleeve?

Hubba, hubba -
The Universe"

So true. I have often muttered the old phrase, "if someone would have told me 5 years ago that I'd be ..... I would have never believed them". Good things happen... out of thin air! I am going to hold this little 'Tut-ism' close to my heart. Tut has the greatest timing! What a great way to start the year. You can subscribe to Tut's daily notes HERE.

Happy Thursday! Looks like we might have a nice place to live in. Still finalising the paperwork. Tell you more tomorrow.

Somewhere To Live

2012-01-04T04:30:00.002+10:00

We are now seriously looking for somewhere to live.

I went further afield for my morning run yesterday... up into Highgate Hill.... to investigate the terrain... and to sniff out any 'for lease' signs I might have missed online.

Very hilly.

Good for the legs.

I found a million streets I could live in...

... and houses that are not for rent! Anything decent is over $1000/week! Easy.

Brisbane, we are like the frog being slowly boiled.

This town is expensive.

Seriously gorgeous.

A super huge block in the city. Like acres. Who knew?

Sympathetic renovations. Love them.

Unfortunately most of the 'For Lease' properties are more like this.

At least they have car accommodation.

This is interesting.

A recent 'unsympathetic' renovation of a sweet little cottage that did have a front verandah... once.

....and with this place, they just joined two houses together.....

.. and boarded up the front door to the second house! As you do.

I'd be happy with something like this.... without the old lounge suite, mop and buckets and rubbish bags on the front porch. I strategically positioned the greenery in the centre of the shot to pretty it up a bit.

I so want to stay in West End. I love my life here. I love the people and the community. There are no airs and graces...no judgements...no one-upmanship. Diversity is embraced. If I chose to ride down the street on a unicycle, playing a pan flute, no-one would bat an eyelid.....

... and the roads are relatively flat so I can ride my bike everywhere. I love that. I love riding to the little 'Billy Tea' corner store to get the milk... and having a chat with the owner about local goings on. I love riding into town to run my errands, stopping to chat to Bill on the way. I love not having to pay $50/minute parking anywhere in this damn expensive town.

So, we're off to see some places this morning.

Wish me luck! Fingers xxxxx

Life can change in an instant... let's hope it's today!

A-M xx

Getting Started

2012-01-03T05:45:00.002+10:00

Thank you for all your wonderful play date recipes! So many shy, self confessed 'lurkers' also emailed me recipes too.... so I have enough to even compile an e-book of them all... "The ~~Idiots~~ 'Non Bakers' Guide To Play Date Catering"... or something like that.

I hopped on my bike and hightailed it to the local store for ingredients and had some pinwheels, melting moments and banana muffins whipped up in no time. Problem with baking is that you eat the stuff though. Thank goodness the first batch is gone.

Came across this dear little place on my ride. I know. West End. Full of surprises.

Ok, now seriously, I've got to get back to work. My shed is beckoning. So is my inbox.

I am not at peace when my inbox gets to over 100 'to action' emails. Ridiculous that it has even gotten to that.

I have lots of these to send out (aren't they beautiful?... I digress for a minute of gratitude for my lovely stock). My 'I can't start work yet excuse' is tied in with the fact that my couriers are on holidays and I need more courier coupons... so therefore I can't work. Pathetic really. Arghh my inbox.... I could start there. And those who read my blog and have 'in-boxed' me, I am sorry, I am starting this week.

Any minute now.

Even though I just want to do this for just a teeny bit longer. Why is it you just start to relax when you have to get back to work?

I'll start small. Isn't that the technique? Just start? January 3rd. Or should I start next Monday? Just one more week? The problem with working for yourself is if you don't work, no-one else pays the bills.... and I have a teenager to feed!

I need to go back and reread my mantras. How do you get fired up for the new work year?

I'll go for a run, clear out the cobwebs, have a coffee, then I'll start...after the school holiday morning activities... or maybe after lunch... or tomorrow while the boys are amused with their play dates.

...or maybe I'll just tidy my desk today. One thing's for sure, I will be baking! Thank. You.

Happy Tuesday!

Oh, P.S.... I have an offer in on a block of land/knock-down dog-box house. Haven't heard anything yet. It's been hard getting these real estate agents out of bed. Why advertise the place when you are not going to answer your phone or even get back to a phone message? There are some people/me out there who only have time to look over the holidays. Anyway not excessively hopeful though as I'm not budging one inch from my offer. "Make your profit when you buy" is my mantra... does that make sense? .... as I made it up for me. It's all about the land. xx

Holiday Update And Recipe Call Out

2012-01-02T06:47:00.001+10:00

We loved the beach. Didn't want to come home.

Gee that iPhone is good fun. Fun for the whole family.

One day he won't take his hand when crossing the road.

Santa's bubble wand went down a treat.

We were very impressed that he found us.

Christmas Day on the beach.

It was glorious.

We said 'Happy Christmas' to everyone who walked past.... even the grumpy ones.

Little one remarked that they became 'less grumpy' when we spoke to them.

We got dressed up and went out for Christmas lunch.....

......with Dr Who's 'Sonic Screwdriver' to protect us.

Best date and walnut pudding I have ever had.

Big statement but true.

Brian and Nigella were so pleased to see us when we got home.

Uncle Paul was in charge of 'Operation Brigella' while we were away.

Thx Uncle Paul.

Our new toys have kept us amused for hours...

....along with visits from our gorgeous cousins.

We still sort of want to be at the beach though.

House full of kids today.....compensatory play dates..... as we need to stay put while I search for somewhere for us to live. Actually it's a week full of play dates. I have to bake something so they don't all starve. My jam drops yesterday were tasty but almost became 'the jam drop' once in the oven.... as the mixture was too runny. Oh to be able to bake. Quick, what can I cook? What's easy?... and idiot proof?

Forget Resolutions, I'm Whispering Mantras

2012-01-01T06:54:00.002+10:00

Image Courtesy Bathwater

Wow, it's 2012... a beautiful, fresh new year.... the next chapter in our lives. Happy New Year!

I reckon resolutions lose their gloss by the time February rolls around.... so this year, it's going to be a list of little mantras, that I can mutter under my breath, that will keep me on the straight and narrow as the year unfolds. With a teenager in the house, I will be muttering 'pick your battles' a lot (BTW, someone has taken my big son and replaced him with someone I do not know. Who is he?).

My 2012 'Mantra List':

Images Via Pinterest

What 'mantras' are you going to be whispering, in this lovely new year?

I wish you a wonderful, safe, healthy, happy and productive year!

2012....let's do this!