PhD definition

PhD - simultaneously feeling as dumb and as smart as you have ever been. Highly dependent on day of the week and level of understanding of reading material.

:-)

This is how much I love living here.

Loving The Block

I've been busy lately. Busy being sick, busy being a 'Masters/PhD not yet sure' student and busy working. But I've allowed time for my favourite daily indulgence, a dose of the lovely Katrina competing on The Block.

I think Katrina and Amie have done an awesome job and I especially loved their choice of artwork. I think she would work wonderfully well in our house, but I don't think I have a hope in hell of affording her. Check it out here for more information or buy it at a discounted price here.

Stationery Love

I adore stationery. It's an addiction I'm sure. I indulged my demons today and visited the local stationery shop. I came across some glorious items, who knew stationery could be trendy.

 

Who doesn't need a post-it dispenser shaped like a handbag?

 Is it a high-heel or is it a stapler?

 

The gold standard in stapling

To tree or not to tree, that is the question

This is a pretty cool use of a tree as a design element.

 

 bodew.com

As is this.

 inhabitat.com

And this

 Design-milk.com

But this?

Channel Nine Top Design

Snake!

I have a snake phobia. I don't just dislike them, I dislike them immensely. It's the kind of phobia that results in completely irrational thoughts and actions. Something along the lines of 'if you don't get that thing away from me I will not be in control of my actions and I may wee my pants'. Truly.

My family are so very kind and caring when it comes to this phobia like to torture me. They tell me snake stories, buy rubber snakes and hide them around the house. But their latest torture technique took the cake.

'Hey mum, when you were at work a snake was here.'
'Bull.....'
'No really, want to see the photos?'

 My husband's friend and his pet snake Monty with Big Boy, my sister and my niece

Needless to say I was very grateful that I was at work that day. Had I been home it wouldn't have been a pretty sight. Now the funny thing to do around here is to suggest Monty may be coming over soon. I've already scoped out the only room in our house with a secure lock and I plan to stay there until he is well and truly gone. Lucky it's the toilet, because I may not be able to control my bodily functions.......

A wedding

A few weeks ago we trotted off to my sister's wedding. It was a small wedding and with not much in the way of a budget, I volunteered to make the cake.

This was made a little problemative because:
- I am not a cake maker
- I'm not even a pretend cake maker
- I have no cake making tools
- I had two kids to look after
- I dropped the bride and groom figurine and broke the groom's head off! (Cue rushed trip to the supermarket to buy superglue.)

Despite one minor meltdown, much under-my-breath swearing and one long break, I ended up with a not-so-bad result. (I also ended up with the filthiest kitchen in Australia. It was so bad I preserved the wreckage until Mark came home to prove just how 'interesting' my day had been.

 A three year old view of the action

 Channeling Tom Cruise

Getting cultured

Last year Big Boy and I headed off to see Grease performed by a local theatre company. Despite literally having to drag him in to the theatre, he loved it and begged me to take him to see Charlotte's Web this year. We've decided to call these trips a mummy son date and they are strictly for the two of us.

The stage is set....

I've been sick recently, very sick in fact, and even today I've had a cry and a moan about it all. Taking it in his stride Boy Boy dressed himself up and he looked like such a handsome young man. I'm so proud of him.

No photos please mum!

Coincidence or something more? A-M read this post!

I've been feeling rather pampered lately having my hair done two weekends in a row for two different weddings. Now I'm a bit of a cheater when it comes to hairdressers and, despite one lengthy period of monogamy, I do tend to 'get around' when it comes to hairdressers.

My newest worker of hair wonders is the lovely Judy who put me onto the Finders Keepers markets and also shares our love of all things home decor. So you can imagine the conversations we have had over the last few weeks.

The second time I visited Judy we were discussing my blog and my inspiration for it and I mentioned (in glowing terms I may add) the beautiful A-M and her glorious home. While we were talking I was thinking how much I would like to actually show her the home ratehr than try to descirbe it. I looked down into the selection of magazines and low and behold there is the exact 'A-M edition.

How's that for coincidence?

P.S. I've gone nuts and posted two entries today- scroll down to read about the markets on this weekend.

How did I not know about this?

I'm coming out of semi-blog-retirement to share some info I came across.

Firstly let me acknowledge the source of all great pieces of info, my newest hairdresser Judy. Hi Judy if you are reading. While we were discussing all things house design, Judy mentioned the Finder's Keepers markets that are on at the Old Qld Museum this coming weekend.

As per their website, 'the markets bring together new contemporary independent artists and designers.' Sounds like a great place to source some new housewares ladies. See you there?

Painting

I've been such an absent blogger lately and I have no good excuses so I won't try. The house however has been coming along nicely, with the external painting happening at a nice pace. I have coveted the gray and white look for years and we are now finally seeing it come to life. Painting over the maroon and cream has been very exciting as has watching Paul the Painter scale the heights without a net.

Here are some pics to show off the colour scheme. It's not quite done so imagine the rest of it without the cream and maroon.

Scheming

I've been scheming about my lounge room for a while now. Scheming + child at home with gastro + EBAY = grand plan.

Imagine if you will my lounge room. (Wrong wall but you get the gist.)

Add one of these, painted glossy white.

And my new purchase, painted white.

Please wait Image not available

Celebrating 'free

Tiny Girl turned 'free yesterday and we celebrated in style. Just to prove you can be a princess and a bikie I've attached my favourite pic of the day.

In other news,Big Boy asked me a few days ago whether he could become a Goth when he grows up. And a nudist. Not sure how he's going to pull that one off but I gave him my blessing.

Happy Easter!

Mini break

I'm sorry I haven't been around a lot lately. I have a lot happening and I've been very busy.

We've also been away on a short break to Hervey Bay. We love it there but this time around it certainly wasn't the best trip. In fact I have no photos at all- that's how good it was. So I've borrowed some pics from Google to show you what we got up to.

 Here's beautiful Hervey Bay

 We camped and our set up was not even as organised as this one. Did I mention I don't camp?

 It rained all week so we found a French bakery and ate too many of these.

 A highlight of the trip was handfeeding a groper.

 And here's the pier that I was certain Tiny Girl was going to fall off. This sparked the 'great 2011 fishing incident.'

And finally here's what we saw all week. I'm glad to be home.

A picture says 1000 words

March update

I've been slack and haven't updated my to do list since February. It's been kind of creepy to see the things I have planned actually start to happen, including some offers coming in out of the woodwork. Here's where I stand right now.


Put away money to buy tickets in October for the 2012 Brisbane International - have not done this yet

Paint the house - nearly finished

Have a BBQ or similar social event at least once a month here at the house - why yes we have :-)

Get my teeth re-bonded - dentist appt tomorrow

Have the house pest treated - thank goodness. No more fleas.

Reply to text messages and phone calls right away instead of 5 days later when I remember getting better

Plant the back garden bed done!

Create a reasonable Christmas Lights display

Go for a walk once a week no comment

Go somewhere on the plane - I have been literally blown away by sudden offers of work intra and inter-state. So far I've turned down Mackay but have accepted Maryborough and Sydney. I'm off soon for my first flight in a good few years and I'm excited.

Network more (work) - yep

Plan birthday parties for both the kids - One down one to go

De-clutter the playroom once and for all half done

Clean off the cornice over spray -done!

Achieve 100 followers by the end of 2011 (thanks Lauren)

Finish typing up my PhD proposal - done!

Sort out our computing needs




So that's my list, how is yours going?

Comfort is ...

Target 1000 thread count sheets. I missed out last year, was determined not to miss out again this year.

They make sleeping divine. Run ladies don't walk!

Tagged this as op shopping, which it isn't, but it's almost as good.

Different views

Much has happened this past few weeks and I thought it was time to share what the house looks like from all angles. Painting is progressing well, carpentry is nearly done, place is fairly tidy, life is good.

Pic 1: View of both floors. Note bottom floor is gray and top is cream. The top will be gray as well.

Pic 2: Left side

Pic 3:  View from the backyard. There will be a set of stairs in the vacant slot (between the poles). Note ladder balancing on the verandah.

Pic 4: Right side yard with soon to be installed black gates

Pic 5: Back yard. Note garden growing nicely

Pic 6: Front yard, garden all nicely trimmed and plants thriving