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?