Thursday 25 September 2014

age appropriate attire

When it comes to clothes and choosing an outfit, I often say, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." I'm of course referring to people who look bloody awful in what they are wearing. Mutton dressed as lamb, fatties who squeeze into a size too small, ugly shoes, wearing Crocs... So today I was faced with a dilemma. I had to ask myself that very question... 

I was browsing the Myer clearance racks. Just something to do for an hour or two. I took an armful of possibles into the changing room and narrowed down my choices to three dresses and a crop top. Then suddenly remembered my age. Oh. Bugger. I looked again at my selection and tried them all on again with 'I'm 41 not 21' in mind. Crop top? Umm. Yeah, that's okay with a high waisted pencil skirt. Tight black and white patterned dress with slit between the thighs??? Reluctantly I put that one back. It fitted beautifully and looked good, but as my darling 10yo daughter pointed out, "It's the kind of dress teenagers wear." 

It's a pain having to do the age appropriate check. Sometimes a line has to be drawn. 

So what did I buy? Two pretty spring dresses for $12, yes $12 each! Gotta love the Myer 75% off already reduced prices rack! They'll do.


Thursday 3 April 2014

change is in the wind...

I think I’m going to stop writing this blog. I have lost interest and want to spend less time on computers and gadgets.  So this may be my last post.

Since our return from such an amazingly beautiful week at Heron Island, I have felt unsettled. I sulked for a week once we got home unable to accept suburban living, we all did.

Now I am left feeling like the way we all live our lives is so out of whack with nature and what is really important. Self-obsession, celebrity, vanity, greed, consumerism, keeping up with the Jones’… It’s all wrong. I am craving a more simple life.

I’m not into religion or spiritual bollocks, but I do strongly believe that as humans we do feel more fulfilled and we have more sense of purpose, when we are living surrounded by and appreciating nature. When we take time to actual feast our eyes on the real beauty of what is all around us - trees and clouds, the stars and sea. The world is an amazing place and the animals and marine creatures that live on it are incredible. They are inspirational and humbling. And it breaks my heart that we are destroying their habitat, killing them for trinkets, ‘medicine’ or health supplements. That we are enslaving them for our amusement in zoos and parks, and we are polluting the environment so that in years to come there will be nothing left and the sea will only contain slime.

Seeing hundreds of baby turtles hatch multiple times a day, and having the privilege to witness turtles lay their eggs, swimming with reef sharks and diving with a huge majestic manta ray, watching eagle rays soar into the sky and dive into the ocean, being surrounded by schools of beautiful fish, spotting bizarre alien-like marine creatures, watching shooting stars and walking in electric blue moonlight – these are the things that make me feel alive!

I want my kids to be influenced by people who are making a difference with their lives, who support causes and fight for change. People, who follow their passions and dreams, not people who are just motivated by money, power and a career in an office.  At Heron Island we met young people who had done more than most people do in a lifetime – participating in research trips to view wild Orcas or tag sharks and manta rays, spending time in Antarctica volunteering on environmental programmes, crewing on Sea Shepherd boats to save whales and dolphins from being slaughtered by the Japanese…

I want to make a difference. I want to be a role model for my kids and introduce them to another way of life. While living in the UK for my formative years, I was so ignorant of world issues and environmental causes. Travelling opened my eyes and now living here in Australia, living by the sea and being able to see the difference people can make (good and bad) makes me want to choose a different life - one that makes me feel fulfilled, one that matters. 

Or, maybe I’m just having a mid-life crisis and turning into a hippy! 





Thursday 13 March 2014

today I am wearing...

I nipped out to Myer on Tuesday, to check out the summer clearance. I ended up with this pretty sundress from Stella, down from $89.95 to $53. I wanted something new to wear to a swanky work lunch in the city and as it's still warm and sunny, thought this was perfect.

Stella dress, handmade glass beads, Tony Bianco 'Lolita' metal heeled skin stilettos.



Wednesday 5 March 2014

oscar red carpets hits

So the award season for 2014 is at an end. I watched the Oscars and 'worked' at the same time (so I could skip all the boring bits). I was impressed this year, the only real clanger on the red carpet was Liza Minnelli, who looked like a clown, oh and Goldie Hawn, who's face now resembles a scary plastic surgery addicts mask, why oh why hasn't she just let herself grow old gracefully? She would have been beautiful. Anyway, I digress...

The red carpet was awash with glamorous gowns. Top marks ladies!

Here are my personal favourites, just seven of them. In order, as follows:

#1 Kim Kardashian looks AMAZING! 
I hate to give her my top position, 
but she looks incredible in this red Celia K
ball gown. Look at her boobs! Breathtaking.
#2 Cate Blanchett looks flawless. A golden 
goddess. I adore this dress and the 
earrings are gorgeous!

#3 Lupito looks stunning, a real Disney 
princess in this ice blue Prada gown. Beautiful.

#4 Kate Hudson looks old time 
glamour puss in this sexy retro 
draped Versace dress. Gorgeous!



#5 Amy Adams. I just love her. Simple, classy, perfect, 
in navy Gucci Premiere.

#6 Naomi Watts looks sleek and slim in this 
pretty white beaded Calvin Klein Collection dress.


#7 Angelina Jolie gives us a
tantalising glimpse of her new 
boobs under this Elie Saab
Couture slinky beaded number.
It's a bit of a granny dress really, 
but she's Angie, she can wear
whatever she bloody likes!




Thursday 27 February 2014

today I am wearing...

I have a client meeting today so I can slip on a pair of heels - yay! I can't be bothered to go too formal, so smart casual it is.

I'm wearing a Mix Apparel dress, Tony Bianco metal point heels and a vintage 70s chain mail pendant (it was my mum's and I use to love sitting on her lap and fiddling with it, loving how it's linked over my fingers).



Friday 21 February 2014

today I am wearing...

It's a cracker of a day again. Hot, humid (thank God for talc between the legs to ease a sweaty gusset!) a big blue sky and sunny. 

I swam in the pool this morning and had a moment of quiet gratitude (are you getting ready to stick your finger down your throat?). It struck me that I actually have everything I want and that anything else is really just a bonus. I know this contentment won't last for long and is probably just my hormones releasing happy vibes, but it is true. I have a happy marriage, my husband is still fit and the same size he was when we married, I have two healthy, happy kids, I get a ridiculous amount of joy from my two fat cats, we have a boat, a nice house near the sea and live in one of the best countries in the world, in a place where the sun shines almost ever day of the year. I have a lovely group of honest girlfriends and a wardrobe full of gorgeous dresses and shoes (including my beloved Louboutins!!!). Yes, I could have a bigger house on the seafront with a bigger pool, designer furniture and newer, trendier cars, but the truth is, I don't need it. I'm happy. Yes it would be nice, but as I said, we do actually have everything that we set out to have when we left London and moved here. 

So for this glorious day, I am wearing as little as possible. It's too hot for clothes. This is an old Primark beach dress from years ago, with a pretty green flowery Gilly Hicks bra and my glass beads.

Have a wonderful weekend people!

Primark UK dress, Gilly Hicks bra, glass beads

Tuesday 18 February 2014

new season stilettos

Yay! Tony Bianco have stilettos to lust over again! After almost a year of very disappointing, bloody ugly clunky shoes, the new season designs feature some beautiful heels. Hoorahhh! These are all on my wish list...