Show us ya growler!

I'm not going to show you my growler.
I value her privacy too much.
But let's just say she's about 5"3.
Has beautiful big brown eyes.
Cheekbones I'd kill for.
And we once shared the same last name.

Yep, I'm talking about my sister - and she is my growler.

Recently I visited her in Oz and she gave me a wee telling off for not updating my blog more regularly.

What can I say ... she's right.  I've been slack.  But I've been baby-obsessed and I didn't want to bore anyone with baby blather.

Since my visit to Oz stuff has happened.
Actually stuff happened in Oz.  My sister and I ate macarons for the first time.  I'll blog about that when I find my camera which has a picture of the macarons.

Yes, I've lost my camera - it'll be around somewhere.  But one of the other things to happen is that I've moved further out of Auckland to a beautiful area with a view of the sea and of sunsets.  In the process I put my camera somewhere so special that I can't find it.  Oh well, it'll turn up and when it does I'll take pictures of said sunsets and seaviews and blog about those.

Yep, no baby blather here ... just boring old sunsets, food and plenty of waffle.

Hope this post makes you happy sis xoxo

Darling Dahlias, You Do Delight Me

The other day my lovely mother-in-law came for a visit and brought me a bunch of dahlias from her garden.

I don't have much else to say other than I love dahlias, they're so cheery and beautiful.

If you're feeling blue they have a magical way of brightening your day.  (Oh goodness, that's on the verge of sounding like a Hallmark card - perhaps I've found my calling?!)

Oh Baby!

I just bought the most beautiful dress from Trade Me.

I could try and describe it but I'd only embarrass myself with my lack of fashion knowledge, so here's the picture of it ...

(I hope the trader doesn't mind me using it!)

I love how it's so subtly sexy.  It covers everything, but it emphasises the curves (and apparently has a slit up the back, vavavooom!)

The only thing wrong with this dress?  I won't be able to wear it for months, because I'm pregnant.

Unfortunately pregnancy hasn't cured me of my desire to buy vintage frocks.  So now they arrive all packaged up, they're unwrapped and lovingly placed in my wardrobe.  Where I admire them from time to time.

I like to think of them as post-baby-body inspiration.  

Get Off My Arse!

Today the almost unbelievable happened.

After 10 years of being a dedicated biped I put my hands on the wheel of a car and drove.

Not just a practice tootle down the quiet backstreets of my suburb.  A real life drive.  On the open road.  Going 100 kilometres an hour, whizzing past paddocks and cows, before slowing down to 50 k's as we moseyed through small country towns, then increasing speed as we hit the Auckland motorway.

I feel like I should have italicised 'the'.

With leather encasing my butt, the smell of hot tarmac in the air and sweaty palms greasing the wheel I felt the magnificent freedom of the keen motorist.

I also discovered what I'd long suspected.  People are mental on the roads.  Young people and grown ups alike tailgated the living daylights out of me.  Apparently doing the speed limit is optional to those driving Holdens or Fords or clapped out Toyotas from the early 90's.  Who knew?

So I was thinking I should get a bumper sticker made.

Please back off.
My tail is for my husband alone.
Or maybe ...
If you can see me giving you the finger you're too close.

Rainy Day Musings

It's raining.
It's pouring.
I'm finding this day boring.
I've had a coffee.
And a cake.
And the housework I'm ignoring.

Yep.  It's one of those days where I sit on the couch and stare at stuff and let the mind meander.

"My Christmas tree is pretty.
I can't believe I used to hate Christmas.
Well it was never the best time of year.
And it's not like working in a job where the lead up to Christmas is pressured makes it any better.
Still you like it now and you're in the same job.
True.
Ah well, there's that theory blown.
Hmmm.  I should take pictures of the pretty decorations.
I wish I could take great pictures.
They're always blurry.
Or the flash makes stuff look funny.
Or everything goes blurry when I take the flash off.
What's that about?
Shaky hands.
I wish my hands were more steady.
Nervy child.  Nervy adult.
Sigh.
Oh well.
Let's take some pictures anyway.
Who cares if they're shit."

Vintage Love

It's no secret that I love vintage.

Vintage cutlery.

Vintage vases.

Vintage furniture.

But most of all I love vintage clothing.

My love of vintage began at the age of 16 at a big old barn of a shop in Christchurch city, Tasman Traders.

It was there I bought my first velvet blazer and a brown and white paisley shirt.

Years later I discovered Tete A Tete and spent many hours looking and trying on.  I still have a couple of the cutest 60's tops ever and a fabulous skirt that I like to pop on every now and then.  And I still dream about the one that got away.  A gorgeous orange long evening dress.  That almost fitted me.  Almost.  Damn my bodacious bust.  Sigh.

In Wellington I lived down the road from a very cool vintage shop, which eventually closed down, but I love the black ladies handbag I bought from there.

When I moved to Auckland I discovered Trade Me and it's been there that most of my recent vintage finds have come from.  (I've only recently been brave enough to venture up to K Road, which isn't scary at all, don't know why I thought it was)  Anyway,  the purchase below is my absolute favourite.  It makes me feel like a lady (especially when teamed with my vintage lady bag)

The Bloom of Happiness

I received a bunch of flowers unexpectedly today.
They were given with no rhyme.
With no reason.
They were given 'just because'.
I think this is the best way to give flowers.
I am happy.

xo