I made this

I've decided that I don't want to be reposting from other's websites/blogs. While I was trawling through the many blogs I read each day and as I was jumping from blog to blog, they were referring to the same source of information. It made me a little frustrated, sure, I get that there's not too much original content out there in this world, but please, try and be a little more inventive! 

So, this is my first "I made this" post. 

Bruchetta inspired spaghetti. Was delish!

Sx

Australia Day!

Happy Happy Australia Day! One of those fabulous days on the Australian Calendar, where I will, tomorrow morning, be jumping on a giant inflatable haviana thong and floating out to sea at Cottesloe beach along with approximately 800 others. 

Hopefully they are a little bigger than these Havvies! 

Have a great day ppls!

Sx

La Paris

Happy New Year! 
So I might just be ticking off one of my "to do's" from the list! Hurrah! (I always think of Enid Blyton when I see Hurrah! I digress). I'm holidaying in France at the beginning of March and I am tres excited! As a happy coincidence, this means I get to tick Learning a language off my list. While I  may not quite get to the fluent stage, I'm just happy to be going to French lesson. And I'm loving it. I don't think I've learnt something I had to study for since I left school, some 15 odd years ago. After the first class my head just hurt, you know that same feeling you get after the first day of a new job, the feeling that makes you wonder just how much in over your head you really are? So it was with some trepidation that I returned last night, and hurrah! all is good. There wasn't that nervous energy in the room, everyone was actually relaxed and laughing at our stupid selves. So I'm really looking forward to Monday's class now.
With the preparations of this trip I'm become painfully aware of a terrible habit I have. Whenever I get close to an oversea's holiday, I go on this crazy shopping splurge. And I mean insane. 
So far for this trip I have bought online: 
1 x pair of ridiculously expensive waterproof boots (which I justified by telling myself that at least I'll be able to wear these ones in Australia afterwards)
2 x Cashmere wrap style cardigans, one in Black, one in White (see above justification)
1 x Cashmere camisole (justification was that it would be silly not to reach the 'free delivery' limit)
1 x Cashmere drawstring pants (see above justification) (NB I did actually delete another $100 off the order when sense kicked in momentarily)
1 x Pair of Skinny Leg Jeans (because the other 2 pairs of skinny leg jeans I already have just aren't quite soft enough to travel in)
2 x Hand knitted Woolen Beret, one grey and one mustard colour (justification was I hate being cold and they were just so darn cute!)
1 x length of Boiled Wool Fabric, to make a cape to travel with (justification was that at least I wasn't buying it ready made!)
1 x Short French Course (didn't really need to justify too much, its on 'the list' right!?)


Still to buy
1 x Puffer Jacket (because as much as the cape will be cute, it probably won't be practical at all times)
1 x Skins or equivalent (don't want to be getting DVT! Plus they have dual application, also double as thermals)


So I estimate that so far the trip has cost me $1,400 (which doesn't include items still to buy, and flights and accommodation), bloody hell. 


The stupidity of it all is that I will want to buy things in London! Because, well its London! And fashion over there is just so interesting compared with Aussie fashion - I'm talking affordable fashion here, not high end. 


I'll have to work out a way to curb my behaviour.


Au Revoir!
Sx

Reflection

This year has gone by so fast. I know its a stupidly clichéd comment to make, but its true! 
I wish we celebrated Thanksgiving over here, as this time of year is full of reflection for me. 
So here goes my Thanksgiving list. I am thankful for:


~ My family and friends (goes without saying really, but I should say it more often)
~ My Job (which whilst not the most creatively fulfilling job, provides me with ample $$'s to pursuit my creative interests)
~ The vast blue skies of Western Australia (I am unable to see a cloud today)
~ The vast blue waters off Western Australia (of which I spent hours in yesterday)
~ The wonderful age of technology we are in (so I may keep in touch with friends and family miles away)
~ My good health
~ Chocolate & Champagne
~ Massages
~ Long gossipy sessions with my girlfriends
~ Digital SLR Photography
~ My Sewing machine
~ Books (both beautifully written masterpieces and trashy novellas)
~ Grass and Trees and Sunsets and Movies and Handbags and Fashion.


Sx

The perfect evening

~ Beer with a friend after work ~

~ Good movie with my favourite cousin ~

~ Debrief complete with tea and laughs ~

~ Walk outside in the balmy summer Perth night ~

~ Private Practice double episode ~

The perfect evening after the crappiest day.

Sx

Balls

I think I need to grow some balls. (Please excuse the crassness, but I feel its appropriate in this instance.)
Hmmm, note in my sentence I say "I think", this is what I'm talking about. I need to be more decisive, not be afraid of making mistakes, understand and accept my weaknesses, be more assertive and understand that I'm not going to be seen as mean or loose friends over the fact that I'm purely communicating clearly what I want and what I don't want. 
I've always had strong people in my life who I have looked to for guidance and advice. This has often gone beyond guidance and advice and I've ended up foregoing what I want in order to please others. 
The reason for my big bold "need to stop this bulls**t right now" is that I'm trying to find a house. This has been going on for months, and by months, I mean over a year! I'm s**t scared about making a mistake, I'm s**t scared about blowing a substantial amount of money on a house that doesn't work out to be a 'smart investment'. I'm trying so hard to be smart about this purchase (my very own first home) that I'm completely dismissing opportunities that may not be quite perfect or fit my very detailed list, or alternatively I've been procrastinating for so long that I've missed houses who have gone to more deserving (ie decisive) people. 
Now I don't really want to do this, because its so cliché, but I blame my mother. As much as I love her dearly, she has fostered in me a strong level of self disbelief. And it all stems back to when she was 17 and bought a car without getting her dad to 'look over it'. Now my grandfather, whilst amazing, was not a mechanic, he was a farmer, and in my mum's eyes that means he can turn his hand at anything. It goes without saying that the $200 mini morris was a lemon, but we still tell stories of it! So that $200 car, while not being the most reliable of vehicles, has given us 30 years of stories and laughter, not a bad 'investment' after all...
So my mum wants my dad (also a farmer) to look over any house I want to look at. Which is almost impossible, he lives 3 hours away and is in the early stages of a very busy harvest, which then leads to his 'stand ins'... My brothers (ditto with busy-ness), my brother in law (also not a builder or realtor), my male friends (geologists, engineers - not structural, lawyers, IT consultants etc etc), my female friends (teachers, lawyers, enviro consultants, etc). So no one I know who is more qualified than me. So why don't I just make the decision about whether I put in an offer on a house or not? Anyone? (the beauty of a non-readership) I thought as much...
So with this in mind, I have just sent an email to the agent of a very cute little duplex'd house in a beautiful street to ask to have a look through a second time. I have already fallen in love with the idea of this house, god help me!
Sx

Home sweet Home

I'm homeless, well not in the strictly speaking "I live without a roof over my head" homeless. I'm homeless in the sense of "I feel like I'm living in someone else's home and I want to put down roots of my own" homeless. 


I live in a home that was already furnished when I moved in, which was handy; I sold my furniture when I left Sydney 4 years ago and haven't needed to buy any since. But this means I don't feel settled. I am rarely at home (haven't eaten there in over 2 weeks) and on weekends I leave early and arrive home late. The house is owned by my parents (whom are farmers) so I rent it at extremely low rent and a great location. But I want my own home.


I'm conflicted, I'm buying a home by myself (singlish remember) and I'm trying to be extremely sensible about it, this will be the biggest item I've bought by a long shot. And coming from a long line of farmers, I'm trying to buy a house on a little tiny bit of land as opposed to a unit or a villa. I've been at this for months. Extending the already long list of suburbs I'll consider, changing my mind about renovated vs "character", tossing up between 2 or 3 bedrooms, calculating how much gardening time I can dedicate each week and on and on. 


I've come close to only 1 property that I quite liked and considered putting in an offer on. But that was sold for considerably more money than I was willing to pay for it. And so the search continues.


I know I'll find it; my character cottage on 400sqm of land, close to the city with only minor work needed to make it sparkling, for a bargain price. 


Fingers crossed 
Sx