Livin la vida loca

Hello world!

In the words of the great wordsmith, Ricky Martin,  I'm continuing to live life 'la vida loca'. 

Unfortunately none of the craziness is particularly glamorous and I have not made anyone' take their clothes off and go dancin in the rain'...  

I do promise however, updates on recent purchases and all things 'Rosey' will be a-happenin this weekend.

'I izz a bit loco'

xxoo Rose.

Where's Rose?

Hello world (no exclamation mark this time, you'll find out in a minute)

Sorry I've been MIA on the WWW as of late. Have had a tumultuous couple of weeks on the personal front. You know how it is, when one thing goes right, like the styling of the hair, everything else goes wrong, like the rest of the life.

I won't bore you with the details but rest assured since I'm writing again, things are on the up. And by up I mean a long and painful climb.

So while I've been dealing with serious bouts of melancholy, coupled with endless doctors appointments, I've still managed to consume sinful amounts of macarons, read a great book (The Alchemist) and even enter a few shops.

How'd I manage all of this, in what can mildly be described as some of the worst weeks of my life? Through the encouragement (read nagging) of my wonderful friends. And even though I'd have infinitely preferred the soothing comfort of lying in bed in foetal position, clearly the friends had other plans.

• Miss D rocked up from Sydney and dragged me (almost kicking and screaming) to our local cafe for tea and sympathy.
• Miss I had me over for lunch and crafted home made macarons. Did I mention she's a legend?
• Miss E & A took me to the promised land, the shopping mall.
• Cousin Rose and his beautiful wife took me to a fancy restaurant and let me order their undivided attention with a side plate of chips (yep that's all I ate, nothing like heartbreak to curb one's appetite, except macarons of course).

Finally, each member of 'da Rose' family (which includes the friends above) have provided unconditional love and support. Can't thank them enough really.

Photos of Miss I's macarons to be posted soon.

Until next time...Rose.

Nature versus Nurture

Hello world!

Any credible geneticist will tell you, all of us in some way, are a by product of characteristics and values determined from the minute we’re conceived. I’m not sure whether this is a heartening thing, but tis a fact of life.

Based on this, I decided to post this week about my own characteristics (both genetic and acquired) because, quite frankly, I’d dearly like to change some of them.

While this may appear slightly maudlin, it’s really not. I mean it’s not like I despise myself or anything, but there are parts of my personality that could really do with a bit of ‘zhuzhing’. As some of you may be aware, I have a teeeeensey weeensey shopping addiction. And, while I think I’ve curbed it for the most part, sometimes it can be a bit of a disease. Like if I don’t take regular doses of my ‘medicine’ (check my account balance), I think I could easily end up in ‘hospital’ (declare bankruptcy).       

Anyway all this talk about personality (by ‘talk’ I mean a one-sided conversation in my brain) got me thinking about whether my particular brand of idiosyncrasy is a result of ‘nature’ (Deoxyribonucleac Acid[1]) or ‘nurture’.

Well I know for a fact that ‘nature’ has generously gifted me with my mother’s rather perculiar temperment. This includes, the abilty to cry at the drop of a hat while remaining strangely silent in times of crisis, a certain flair for melodrama, and an unfortunate propensity for overreactions. WHAT??? Angelina over Jennifer??? Are you frickkin kidding me??? Honestly you think you know someone...  

So while the above characteristics make total sense to me, others leave me baffled. Why is it that I can remember every principal character from Dawson’s Creek, but can’t for the life of me do my 11 times tables? I mean for heaven’s sake I’m related to a man who has three post-graduate degrees in Economics (my father).  

Other fun characteristics, like my penchant for violent, melancholic movies (Scarface, The Godfather) can easily be attributed to a great film teacher I had in college. Even my recent foray into vintage clothes and furniture is an extension of my love of vintage literature, a love nurtured by my wonderful Year 9 English teacher.

I guess what I’m saying is that there are clearly parts of my personality that I cannot change. Cue overreaction to this realisation. Other stuff, like the shopaholism, recent bouts of insomnia and a new found addiction to ‘Grain Waves’ (a dangerous brand of flavoured chips) I’m pretty sure I can work on.

Well that’s all from me this week folks. I hope I’ve inspired you all to try a bit of psychoanalysis at home. Because after all, we should all become just that little more self involved, dont you think?

Until next time...Rose.

A recent trip to my local Gallery inpired this...see 'nurture'.

Cinema, Couture and Culinary Update

Crazy, Stupid, Love: This is the second movie I’ve watched, starring Emma Stone in a matter of weeks, and I gotta say the girl knows how to pick em.

A few weeks ago I was lamenting over the fact that Hollywood keeps producing romantic comedies that are neither romantic nor funny.

With this movie however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Just the stellar cast alone, including Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Julianne Moore and Marisa Tomei, make this movie worthwhile. But it goes further.

I found the script so charming, and at times so poignant (no, really), I started relating the narrative to passages in my own life. My first hopeless romance, meeting my soul-mate in high school, a perceived lack of vulnerability...I could go on. Anyway I really enjoyed it- 4 out of 5.

Lavender Macaron from the National Portrait Gallery-Cafe. A little piece of heaven.

Op shop +Sportscraft blazer= awesome

[1] Or DNA. I actually know the scientific name. Google did not help me.

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Weekend treasures

Hello world!

I was planning on posting these pics with my (ir)regular weekly post, but in the wise words of The Pointer Sisters " I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it".

I went op shopping on the weekend and picked up this beautiful cream sweater. I think it's circa 1980's.  Even though it's not really appropriate for Canberra's current climate, which is previewing what's likely to be a dry and unbearable summer, it's coming with me on my USA/Europe winter holiday. So snuggly and delicous looking!

Also scored a delightful Windsor chair, which means my dressing area is finally complete. Hurrah!

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

Guess who’s coming for dinner?

Hello world!

Although life’s been a little ho hum of late, mainly due to suffering from some pretty mind blowing migraines, a fresh stack utility bills and the arrival of an old friend- the chin pimple, I promise I won’t let it dampen my spirits.  

How can I? When I'm surrounded by this:

 

 

As some of you may remember, in my very first post I gave a rather unflattering view of my backyard. Given I didn’t actually post any photos, here’s the actual ‘view’:

 

Like I said earlier, dirt track masquerading as a backyard.

So why am I talking about my backyard exactly? Well what could be more interesting. No really there is a point to this. You see, since my home is the size of a shoe box , the multipurpose room that quadruples as my dining room (the others being lounge/study/ playroom) barely allows for any form of entertaining.  

Sure I’ve had friends around, and they’ve all been very gracious re the lack of facilities, but there's only so many times you can serve dinner on people’s laps. Nothing says elegance like balancing cutlery on your knees...

Anyway the Husband and I decided the cheapest way to remedy this odious form of entertaining is to extend the multipurpose room to include a conservatory/dining room. This dining space will hopefully cater to more than three people and possibly even allow us to serve food on flat surfaces. Here's hoping.

Anyway all this talk of dining rooms got me thinking about ultimate dinner party guests. It's not that I don’t consider my friends and family as fabulous company, but really if you could have anyone, and I mean ANYONE (dead or alive) who would they be?

Since I’ve had plenty of time to think about this, having been off sick from work this week, I think I’ve whittled the list down to my top five:

1.  Jane Austen - it is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman in possession of a dining room must be in want of guests!

2.  Michelangelo- having studied some of his work, while “helping” the Husband write  his architecture history essays, all I can say is “WOWZA”. Fancy a glimpse into the mind of a genius.  

3.  Mahatma Gandhi- my idea of courage and kindness personified.

4.  Elie Weisel- Holocaust survivor and author of one of the most powerful books I have ever read 'Night’.

5.  Oprah Winfrey- yeah yeah she’s an attention seeking bleep bleep. Each to their own eh? For me, she’s a phenomenal woman who’s overcome obstacles which I can’t even begin to fathom.  Plus I find her incredibly charismatic and I reckon she’d be a great raconteur.  

So over to you, ultimate dinner party guests? Until next time...Rose.

Bird Bargains (cheep cheep)

Bunting for Little Rose's room. Cotton on Kids.

Before, old jam jar. Now, lovely vase.

El Cheapo notebooks from Typo, 2 for $10! 

Guilty Pleasures

Ok I know I've been complaining about a lack of funds and I have no need for a firescreen, a wheel, or a vintage suitcase but that's why it's called guilty pleasures...

 

Cute sticker on the fire screen.

Cinema Update

Horrible Bosses: While I love Jason Bateman (from one of my all time fave TV shows, Arrested Development) who stars in the movie, I went in with really low expectations. I mean the drivel that’s been coming out of Hollywood by way of comedies literally makes me want to stick pins in my eyes. Ok not literally, but really the movies are soooo bad.

As such, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by this one. There were some genuinely funny moments. The humour I found similar to The Hangover but way less sinister, despite the premise -three blokes trying to kill their horrible bosses! Great movie to see with the other half. 3/5!