Wednesday 24 August 2011

What's new pussycat?

Hello world!

Now that spring's nearly here I finally feel like I have a spring in my step.
 
 
The blossoms are out!


Even though Australia is often marketed as the land of the sun, surf and buxom babes, Canberra is renowned for its cold, crisp climate. By Australian standards, the unusually chilly winters around here allows for the wearing of snuggly winter coats, lounging around elegant fireplaces (or in my case, in front of my ever so stylish gas heater) and sipping warm liquidy drinks in an ever expanding cafe market.

Speaking of cafes, I just checked out a newbie in Garema Place. It’s called... you guessed it, ‘Garema Cafe’. While I haven’t tried the food, it’s a nice enough place to sit around, drink coffee and write mee blog!

I'm really hoping these smaller establishments continue to pop up in our city, ala Melbourne.

Anyway, back to Canberra's wonderous winter, usually when it comes- a- knockin, I find myself doing a little jig, splashing out on a new coat and revelling in all its icy glory.....but this year? mmm not so much. Instead, I’ve faced every blessed day with a fear akin to those suffering from ‘winteraphobia’ (that may not be the technical term but it’s a real condition, look it up). Basically, I just wanted it all to just go away. Far, far away.

I’m not entirely sure what caused this sudden change of mood, but I’m really hoping it’s a temporary blip which I grow out of by um...next year.

Anyway, to fight off my general state of ‘miserableness’ I started planning some pretty major changes in my life. I can't say too much at this stage in case the proverbial hits the fan, but I'm really hoping a change in career, possibly through a stint at uni (mature age student, yeah baby) and an upcoming holiday to Europe and America will change my fortunes. More on the holiday later!

So other than wallowing in my wintery blues what else have I been up to?? Why shop, watch movies and eat, of course!

As you may have now gathered, I’m a bit of a sucker for new stuff, not 'new' new stuff, but you know what I mean. HOWEVER, since I entered the self awareness phase that is my late 20’s, I've had to take a good hard look at my shopping habits, and let me tell you, it ain’t pretty. There was a time, particularly after I finished uni and got my first real job, that come pay day (which for the public service is Thursday), I would literally leave the office as soon as etiquette allowed, run to the nearest department store and buy the first thing that caught my eye. It didn’t really matter what it was, I just wanted that rush of buying something pristinely packaged and knowing that it was mine to keep FOREVER. It was a shopatragedy really.     

So while I don't think I'll ever curb my habit entirely, I'm now buying things that are much more meaningful to me, and if it happens to be vintage/hand me down/fair trade stuff  that actually helps a cause or two, then hot diggity, that’s even better..

So on that note, here's what I’ve spent my hard earned cash on these last few weeks:

Yet another tea pot!
Post war (1940-50s) Arnotts biscuit tin.Husband loves this.


Cinema and Culinary Update

Jane Eyre: OMG, watched this with Miss E and just wanted to dive into the screen and fall into the arms of Mr Rochester (Michael Fassbender). It was languid, subtle, and oh so beautiful. The mise en scene (a term I learnt in film class!) literally made me weep with desire. It was so so beautiful. Plus, I think I have a crush on our very own Canberra girl, Mia Wasikowska, who plays Jane. Loved it, loved it, loved it 4/5!

The "delicious" fried ice cream

 I still love ya!

Ok so I tried fried ice cream once when I was very little, I can’t  really remember the taste, so when the fam and I headed out to our favourite family restaurant, the institution that is Sammy’s Kitchen, I thought I’d give it another crack. How bad could it be right? Yeah pretty bad. I had one mouthful and almost choked on the curiously crusty yet doughy coating covering the ice cream. Yep definitely one that should have been left in the memory bank. Till next time...Rose.xx
























Saturday 13 August 2011

Any time's good for a spring clean

Hello world!

While this weeks post is a little short and likely to be disjointed, I'm hoping the pearls of wisdom I am about to bestow upon you all will make it worthwhile. Earlier last month, a lovely commentator- Miss F, asked for some advice on storage solutions. By simply asking for said solutions, she sent a timely reminder to me about my own needs for storage.
You see from my experience, part of developing good storage involves regularly reviewing and purging ones household goods. So for the last week and a half, while in the process of purging my ever expanding mound of 'crap', I decided to indulge in a good ole spring clean.  I realise I may be one of perhaps 400 people in the world who would describe a spring clean as 'indulgent', but there it is. Sorry, what's that you say? "but it's not even spring!!". Ahh my dears, therein lies the pearl of wisdom. For you see, any time's good for a spring clean.

In fact, I recommend a spring clean at least two to three times a year, if not more. On the surface it can seem incredibly tedious and dead boring, but I promise the satisfaction you get once it's over is second to none. And by none, I mean winning the lottery, discovering the fountain of youth and world peace.
So my top tips for implementing good storage solutions are:

  • cleansing (that's right I said "cleansing") storage spaces at much as you can
  • adding free standing drawers and tallboys in fitted cupboards

  • categorizing summer and winter wardrobes ( especially in Canberra where there is a distinct difference) and putting away your non seasonal clothes in suitcases/or other storage
  • using alternate forms of storage, for example, my husband found this IKEA shoe cabinet which now houses his massive collection of cables and DVD's.


Children's rooms can also be a nightmare to keep in order. I've found with little Rose, the only way to stop her room looking like it's been hit by a tsunami is to throw in as many deep drawers and containers possible. That way at least, the clothes can be shoved into tallboys, books can be hurled into bedside tables, and the 17,565 crayola pens can be chucked into neatly contained boxes.







So my fellow Internet surfers I hope I've inspired you all to get a spot of spring cleaning in your life. It really is surprisingly therapeutic. Trust me I'm not insane, really. Until next time...Rose.

 Bird Bargains (as in "cheep" "cheep")

Velvet cushion 'cushioned' with rhinestones. Originally $70 at Myer, bought for $30. Score!!


Guilty Pleasures

None to report this week, although I came this close (imagine a tiny space between your thumb and forefinger) to buying a pair of carrot pants. And by carrot pants I mean voluminous up the top, tapered at the bottom. The reason I didn't buy them was because I couldn't decide whether they made my waist look reeeaaallly small or my bottom look reeeealllly huge. Hmm food for thought, but if I'm to buy said pants, clearly not for consumption.

Cinema and Culinary Update

Rise of the Planet of the Apes- Although the film has received mixed reviews, and I must admit I found it at times, incredibly dark and menacing, the CGI was amazing and the role of 'Ceaser the ape', played by Andy Serkis, was a marvel in motion capture technology. 3 1/2 out of 5. Check me out, David Stratton eat your heart out!

The most delicious chook I've ever consumed. Courtesy of the thorn in my rose (or in other terms -the husband...jokes). 
 


Disclaimer. I'd like to apologise for using the word 'crap' in the above post, however it's the only way to describe some of the items I discovered during my spring clean : a 500 pack of bobby pins (seriously) a charming collection of mouldy old mascaras and virtually mountains of mismatched socks. Thank goodness for hindsight.
   

Thursday 11 August 2011

Coming soon!

Hello world!

Just wanted to let you all know I have not dissapeared off the face of the www
(can't be bothered to spell out the acronym but somehow can be bothered to write 'can't be bothered'...no one said I wasn't nuts).

Am writing a new post as we speak and hope to upload this weekend. I've gone a bit mad on the garage sale, op shop front as well so can't wait to share.

BTW how miserable is the weather in Canberra this week? Not cool at all. Arctic like temperatures be gone!

Talk soon, Rose. xx