Puffing with pride

Hello world!

Thanks to the super kool Rachi over at le-bonvivant, I've been nominated for a Liebster Award.

To say I'm a bit puffed and chuffed would be an understatement.

What's a Liebster Award you say? Well a 'Liebster award is a blogger to blogger award, almost like a chain letter between bloggers' but waaay less annoying (quote from Rachi's blog...well you know how it is, if it ain't broke...).  

Anyway, I think it's an ace gesture and one that works on the principle of paying it forward.

 

So here's the low down, the nominee has to answer 11 questions from their nominator, plus declare 11 random facts about themselves and then nominate bloggers with less than 200 followers to win the award. Plus you gotta thank your nominator by linking back to their page (well that's just good manners!) and let your nominees know on their page.

So first here's my nominees and questions:

M at AfterLComes Mmmmm
Maadz & Mari at My Pretty Sydney
Teak at Cider Teak

1.      Favourite movie of all time
2.      Favourite song to sing at Karaoke
3.      Favourite subject in school
4.      Three ultimate dinner party guests ( dead or alive)
5.      Career aspirations as a child…when I grow up I want to be…?!
6.      Favourite item of clothing
7.      A travel destination on your wish list
8.      Sweet or savoury, and why?
9.      First childhood memory
10.  Where do you think you’ll be 5 years from now?
11.  Random deal breakers for relationships (friends or partners)

Rachi’s Questions to me!

1. Who inspires you the most? 

The Husband. Even though we disagree on stuff and always have spirited debates, he's my sounding board for most things.

2. Describe yourself in three words?

Baaah hard one without sounding like a total douche, but I’ll have a crack. I’d say I’m a…

Funny
Fickle
Dreamer

3. What's the first thing you do every morning as soon as you wake up?

Sad…check Facebook and then pee.

4. What's the biggest fashion faux pass you've ever made?

So many to choose from… where to begin?!

I was a blind trend follower until my early 20’s, so I’ve done everything from Spice Girl inspired platform shoes to J Lo inspired white pants. No one should ever wear white pants.

5. What's one skill you wish you had?

I love art, so the ability to draw and paint.

6. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?

Manhattan, without a doubt.

7. What was your first ever job?

A customer service ‘consultant’ at Hungry Jacks.

8. What's your favourite book of all time?

Pride and Prejudice.

9. What's your number one guilty pleasure?

A bowl of potato mash with lots and lots of butter.

10. Which fairytale is your favourite and why?

I’m not sure I really have a favourite fairytale. I guess I grew up watching Disney interpretations, so does Aladdin count?!

11. What's your favourite song at the moment?

Retrograde, James Blake. I'm obsessed.


11 Random Facts about Me 


1.       I went to 7 different schools in three different countries by the time I was 12. My dad was an academic, so we travelled a lot.

2.       I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time when I was 13. I’ve read it every year since. I’m now 29.

3.       I am obsessed with Jane Austen.

4.       I love violent, melancholic movies. My favourite movie of all time is The Godfather.

5.       My sister and I have the exact same initials, middle name included.

6.       My sister and I sound so similar that for many years my husband couldn’t tell us apart on the phone.

7.       I wore braces till I was 21. I had no issues with vanity, but they were a total pain when it came to eating steak.

8.       I love steak.

9.       I’m kind of a neat freak, but only with certain things. Hence my hatred of unmade beds, but total disregard for the linen cupboard.

10.   I haven’t eaten cereal since I was 15. I’m now 29. Something about crusty things floating in milk freaks me out.

11.   I’d much rather nap than go out clubbing.

Well friends I hope the facts above have enlightened you all as to my person, and please do check out my nominees, cuz they're all awesome reads. Thanks again to Miss Rachi for the shout out!

Until next time...Rose.
xx

An Ocean of talent

Hello world!

A quick one today. I've been meaning to shout out to Frank Ocean for a while.

I have to admit, it took me a while to get into his music, having only heard snippets of his first album Nostalgia Ultra, but the Husband, who has been a true believer from the beginning insisted I listen to the track Pyramids from his latest record Channel Orange and as they say...the rest is history.

Seriously, what a revelation!



I truly believe Frank heralds a new era in R&B and Hip Hop, which had taken a turn for the worst over the last decade with records filled with sleazy, crass, lyrics played to the loop of inane auto tuned vocals.

But Frank is like, the antithesis of all that. 

While his first album Nostalgia Ultra is awesome, Channel Orange leaves it for dead. Engaging, witty and insightful lyrics, intertwined with smooth vocals and killer tunes, the album is simply sublime. 

My favourite song Super Rich Kids, which features a sample of Elton John's Benny and the Jets is genius, exploring the hollowness and superficiality of material life.

It's my favourite record of 2012, check it out, you won't be sorry!

Back to reality

Hello world,

As Eminem once said...it's back to reality (ohp that goes gravity) for Da Rose. It's my first five day week at work after Christmas and let me tell ya, it ain’t pretty.

While being a work isn’t always super fun, my spirits are definitely kept alive through my weekly ritual of arranging fresh flowers for the house.

My friend, M, who is also a blogger (check out here:)  has the most amazing garden. Plus, as she lives literally down the road, I’m always popping over to drink in the deliciousness of  it.

Luckily for me, her garden, along with a myriad of other plantation, houses sweet clumps of my favourite flower, the hydrangea. Here they are sitting in my first ever teapot (one of many in my ever expanding collection).

On the Radio

Other spirit lifters for me this week, include the awesome British band, Everything Everything. Their album Arc is currently the feature album on Aussie Radio Station Triple J, and I’m loving listening to their sweet tunes on the way to, and from work this week.

There’s something so wonderful about discovering new music, or in this case, seeing a band who you’ve admired for a while, come into other people’s consciousness.

Everything Everything



This brings me to my resolution of  indulging in as much music and cinema as I can this year.

At the movies

Next on the reel is Katherine Brigalow’s, Zero Dark Thirty. I was, pardon the pun, blown away by her last (Oscar winning) movie The Hurt Locker, so am super excited to catch it when it comes out end of this month. I'm also hoping to see it at Canberra's newest premium cinema, the Palace Electric.

The Palace, located in the uber cool Nishi building in New Acton, will offer a range of cinema, including hopefully excellent, independent, arthouse and world films It is also hosting the Canberra Italian Film Festival, which I am super excited about. Check out info on the Palace and the Italian Film Festival here.

Well that’s all for now folks!

Until next time…Rose. xx

Musings on music

Hello world!

My long weekend, which I posted about last was a total anti-climax:-(

Not a single thing went according to plan, which again confirms my suspicion that me and planning are never going to be BFF's.

On the flip side, the very weekend after the one which I whipped myself into a frenzy for, ended up being far more productive. I finally purchased a beautiful strawberry coloured throw, inspired by the vibrant colours of Jonathan Adler, and two new cushions, one of which features my favourite city in the world. Photos soon.

Ok now onto the title of my post. Look I know you must be thinking "why the feck have I clicked onto a post titled 'Musings on music', when all I've read so far is a rant on planning and something about throws" but wait my children, there is a point.


While I will never downgrade the pleasure of purchasing beautiful objects, my newest discovery (new to me anyway) kinda transcends the mere material. You see, I first heard of Joni Mitchell's music, through the teeny bop haze that was my teens.

Even though it was a sample in a long forgotten Janet Jackson song, I never really forgot the beautiful melody in her voice. Even though many years went by before I had the pleasure of hearing her music again, now in my twenties, with easy access to high speed internet, and well...better taste, I've discovered the majesty that is Joni Mitchell.

I hope you love her as much as I do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQpZXUGRy1U

Until next time...Rose. xx

Music to my ears

Hello world!

I’ve had a fabulous time this past week. Nothing particularly glamorous or noteworthy to report, but just a general feeling of optimism and well...happiness! I suspect this feeling may have been aided, or boosted by the listening of some pretty amazing tunes.

Music has always played an important role in my life, having been assigned singing/music lessons when I was very young. In the beginning however, being an inherently shy person, these lessons were a form of cruel, cruel torture. Torture devised by a devious woman called Mother Rose.

To add further insult to injury, these lessons weren’t just your run of the mill keyboard lessons. Oh no, my Mother Rose insisted I learn to sing with and play, a classical Indian instrument called the harmonium.

 

The harmonium was devised by the French, but modified and adopted in the Indian sub continent some 100 years ago. Though it’s rarely used in the West, some contemporary singers, like Fiona Apple have used samples in their tracks.

Now picture this, it’s the early 90’s and I’m 7, so learning to play an ethnic instrument was about as cool as...well, learning to play an ethnic instrument. PLUS I was made to sing at cultural recitals. Peeing in your pants anyone?  

Fortunately as time wore on, my confidence grew, and I learnt to love signing and playing the harmonium. While I will never play in front of anyone EVER AGAIN, it’s nice to have a skill for life!

News just in- my relationship with the harmonium has come full circle with my mother now enlisting Little Rose for lessons! Ahh bless pushy stage mothers, they’re a rare breed.

Speaking of music, last week I declared my love for New Zealand singer, Kimbra. Her music is quite quirky, which I rather fancy and so very melodious. Kinda like another singer who caught my ear some time ago- the phenomenal Adele.





Both women are so fantastic and unique in their own way. Plus they're such a welcome change from the auto-tuned rubbish of Kesha and her ilk. Honestly, the state of today’s pop music almost makes me wish for a bout of tinnitus!

Well that’s about it from me this week folks. Hope you enjoyed my ramblings and happy listening...Rose.

Couture, Cinema and Culinary Update

More handmade earrings from Canberra designer, Chloe.

Had the loveliest dinner with Miss M and Miss I at Sage (Braddon, ACT) last Friday. This was my second time dining there, and if possible, it was even better than the first. The service was attentive without being obtrusive, and the food was a feast for the eyes as well as the tum tum. Yum.

Deconstructed tuna ravioli with avocado cream.

Duck a l’orange, with a twist.

The Help: Featuring the wonderful Emma Stone ala Easy A. While I thought the movie was incredibly thought provoking, set right before the Civil Rights Movement really took off, it somehow left me wanting more.



I thought the performances by the principal cast were really dignified, particularly Viola Davis as Aibileen, but the script for me, got a little schmaltzy in parts. I was aching for a bit more depth. All is all, still a great movie. 3 and ½ out of 5.

New discovery

Hello world!

Quick update. Have been obsessively listening to lovely NZ singer Kimbra. Being the dag that I am, I have just caught onto her beautiful music. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHV04eSGzAA

I looove her style!!

xx Rose