Just sayin'

I know I over use this. Its just a little phase. I'm sure it will pass.
This is from here. Just sayin'.

Merry Christmas to you

Image from Selina Lake

Today I bought my dog some handmade gourmet dog biscuits dipped in carob and blinged up with sprinkles. In the shape of Christmas trees. Cute stuff.

I have decorated pears with gold glitter in an attempt at table top mastery. I have gold glitter in places you don't want to know about. So does my dog who reluctantly had a bath at 9 pm during the Carols - it was when Ricki - Lee wasn't hitting the high notes. Just sayin'.

A top holiday tip from event planner Colin Cowie "Give your space a little sparkle with creatively incorporated glitter." I'm ahead of the game here it seems. I often am. It seems. See Kate Moss rocking a fringe now.....

Just about to dip my Christmas batch of bon bon's in chocolate.

Happy Holidays from my family to yours. xxxxxxxxxxxxx

That's all.

Santa baby

Please hurry down the chimney with this.
Nancy Bag from Symthson of Bond St.

Those things you never do.....

I never go to the ballet or the theatre. And I want to. I missed out on the nutcracker at the Sydney Opera House. It was disappointing. I saw it once when I was little. There is a story here but its embarrassing so I won't tell you. I would really like to go and see Love, loss and what I Wore. Its starting soon at the Opera House and sounds like its right up my alley.

I never go to Pilates or yoga. I want to. I've been before. I enjoyed it. I secretly want someone to come with me. I tried convincing my Gal R to come but she's hung up on aqua aerobics. I need to do the Pilates to be seen in my swimmers to do aerobics. Got it?

I really want to be one of those people who has nice canisters with sugar, flour, tea whatever. All matching. I want the Nigella blue ones. But I need around 20 of them so it would be a bit pricey. I really don't like my unmatched pantry. Its obviously not a huge issue but it bothers me. I just don't ever do anything about it. The intention is there though.

At this time of year I really wish I had organised some charity work. Help at a soup kitchen on Christmas eve. I just never do it. I should. I will.

I was saying to my Mum yesterday, we really should spend one Christmas away with my family at a beach house somewhere lovely. We could have a seafood lunch by the sea. I can picture it in my mind but we don't ever organise it. We say we will. We just don't. Then December rolls around and we think, "Oh yeah... that great idea."

I wish I would print all our photo's and put them into albums. Matching albums from Symthson of Bond St preferably. Get your act together lady.

I would like to start a grown up drinks cabinet situation. Then I could offer you a gin martini next time you come over. Just sayin'.

I wish I would buy things when I see them. Don't buy for an occasion - buy what you love when you see it. I read that in Vogue once and it made perfect sense. I just don't do it. I can see myself regretting a navy striped jacket from Alannah Hill I recently tried on and didn't buy.

So basically I feel bad because I haven't done any Christmas shopping and it has reminded me of all the other stuff I never do. But want to. Hopefully next year I can tick something off my list. Maybe I can go to Pilates on my way to buying some canisters, and get a start on next years Christmas presents. Or I could go back to watching Toddlers and Tiara's. Whatever. x

Rachael's Favourite Things

So its like a week and a bit till Christmas. I've had my tree up for over a week. A wreath on my front door. I've listened to carols. I've made Christmas cookies. I've helped my mum set up for a Christmas party. I've made 50 bon bons. Its been stinkin' hot. I've had a fight with my husband in a shopping centre... and yet it still doesn't really feel like Christmas.

I don't know what's happened to me but the magic just ain't here yet.
In the meantime my nails can look good. Silken cord is this gorgeous colour... holiday red is almost always guaranteed to put a twinkle in my step. Happy Wednesday... x

Rachael's Favourite Things

Its going to be a hot December if the last few days are any indicator. I am not auditioning to be a weather gal, just getting cross at myself for a sun burnt back. It was in the name of fashion.

My face however I can smugly say has no lines or wrinkles and my freckles have faded. Thanks to this and some other chemicals.....

Elle Macpherson. I. Salute. You. (And not the sun.)
Invisible Zinc from adore beauty.

Rachael's Favourite Things

I would be happy if this darling necklace found its way under my tree.
I am holding out for some last minute Oprah tickets. crossing my fingers and toes. Wish me luck.
Necklace from shopbop.

Rachael's Favourite Things

In honour of Ms Winfrey being down under at the moment I am channelling one of my favourite yearly episodes into blog form. I'm not sure if that sentence makes sense or not.

So with fanfare here is the first of my Favourite Things for 2010.

These trousers may be a gift from god. I have bad pins. Veins, fat knees, white legs.

I love dresses but they can't really be worn without a spray tan to hide the above. Skirts same issue. Sick of maxi dresses really. This summer I have been embracing the slouchy pant. Just as comfortable as pyjamas. Happy days.

W is for....

Image from brides.com

Vera Wang you make me happy. With shades of grey.

Vera Wang Fall 2011 collection from here.

Don't you just love a good card? - Christmas edition

As promised some funny and one cute card with a dog. My fav is the namaste snow man.

Santa
Jerkface

Cold outside

Yoga Christmas

Merry Truckin' Christmas

Don't you just love a good card?

Found one. From here.
Stay tuned for a special Christmas themed Don't you just love a good card. It will be thrilling. Strap yourself in.

Why I love Christmas - Part two

I have started to think about my Christmas Day outfit. I have been thinking about it since I saw a dress about 8 weeks ago.

Now a Christmas day outfit can be tricky. For instance you don't want to be to obvious with your colour choices. You don't want to clash with any Christmas tree decor in a family photo. You might need a practical outfit if you are the host and required to coordinate with an apron. You may have to dress for more than one function. Or you could need a selection of outfits appropriate for the different family gatherings. That's another blog though really. How to dress for multiple Family Christmas parties in one day. Next year....I won't let you down.

I have found the perfect dress. Neutral colour, beautiful detail, venue appropriate and feels festive without going OTT. A winner!

Last year I tried to get my family to wear black tie. I told my husband and he said he would have to try on his tux. Bless him. He's pretty gullible. That's why I love him.
Just sayin'.

Beautiful Anu dress from runwaygirl.com.au. Go online to see their Christmas shopping competition!

Blog post 267

I have neglected you oh little blog. So just to recap........

I've moved house.

I'm looking forward to the Nate Berkus show. I love a man in a cardi on tv.

I am waiting for my fake tan to dry. So I can go to bed.

I maybe writing this blog in my underwear.

Just maybe.

I'm back... Just sayin'.

If I was...

At home. I would be wearing these. I wish I was. I'm not. That's all. x
Track suit pants from countryroad.com.au.

W is for....

Prince William.

Isn't it lovely that he gave her Diana's ring. Just beautiful.

Love a royal wedding.

Nice interview with BBC too.

Can't wait.

Maybe I need this...

But there is the pesky ban on no clothes shopping in this house.

Sonia Rykiel t shirt from NET A PORTER.

I love a good bow.

I'm distracting myself with online browsing when I'm meant to be packing. That's all. x

Its a sign.

I'm home alone till Sunday.

I had a visitor last night. I don't know its actual identity but it was behind our fireplace and making a hell of a lot of noise. (When Beauty and the Geek was on - not happy.)

I had to kindly interrupt my neighbour from hosting a dinner party and a lovely cooked meal from his charming wife to help with with "the situation." "The situation" being something behind the fire that could potentially kill me, while watching Beauty and the Geek

There's nothing like seeing a man in an Armani suit with a flash light around his head standing up in your fireplace. Nothing was found but the noise is still in there. Its a combination of rustling, growling and scratching.

Then a huge locust (I know biblical reference here) flew inside and decided to land on my foot - well I was already at breaking point after "the situation." You know how that ended.

As I went to have a shower last night before bed barely able to contain myself from "the situation" that was still being played out in my living room there was a lizard hiding under the bathroom scales. I kid you not. Its still there. I'm too scared to attempt to move it and I've run out of people I can bribe to help me with bottles of wine.

My neighbour just told me they had a rat in their laundry this week and that "she's a nice girl from Bellevue Hill and if she See's a snake she outta here..."
I'm taking these freaky phenomenon as a sign that we should be moving back to the city.
Sometimes the universe must be laughing its arse off.

I would like to apologise for the use of damn and arse in this weeks posts. Its been a busy week. Please don't judge me. The pest man is coming at 5pm. Its amazing how "unbooked" a pest man can become if you cry on the telephone. x

Missing and hoping.

Things I miss about Sydney:

Being able to walk to a cafe, restaurant, anywhere.

Sydney Harbour.

That great Japanese place in Glebe.

My hairdresser. I love you Nicole.

David Jones Sydney. And its food hall.

Walking the Cremorne harbour foreshore work with my gal R.

Portofino's.

Rosie's nail bar. I know they miss me.

Variety.

Things I'm not looking forward to:

Humidity.

Stinking hot days.

Traffic.

Crowds.

Lines at Woolworth's.

Storage issues. We have a lot of stuff. Hello when was the last time my husband went surfing? Do we need a surfboard? Tent. Blow up mattress. 2 sets of ski's. Beach umbrella. Rakes, shovels, A collection of baskets for firewood. I went a little crazy on the wicker baskets...More candles and photo frames to poke a stick at. Wreaths...don't start with the wreaths.

Things I'm going to miss about the country:

Our little community.

Friendly people.

My beautiful house.

Log fires.

My garden.

Space.

Country decorating. Lets say I have embraced it....

Cellar doors...

I'm definitely not going to miss...

Wildlife.

Spiders.

Lizards.

Possums.

Field mice. Yes Its been kept a "secret" but we have had mice this winter... Lets just say the local pest man can go on that European trip this year....

Busy bodies. Especially that nosy lady in the chemist.

My husband working from home. Enough said.

So that's where I'm at. Mixed feelings about another move. We are doing the right thing....but damn I am going to miss this house.

Kirstie Allsopp would say something clever here about "houses don't make homes. people make houses homes" or something like that. I love me some location, location, location. Housewives favourite that Phil Spencer.

W is for...

If you were one of Australia's premier cake makers, what would you design for your own wedding?

I would imagine it would be hard to decide. This beautiful cake was made by Faye Cahill for her recent Sydney Wedding. Love love love.

More of Faye's beautiful work here.

Yum!

Eat, Pray, Move.

How to look chic when moving.....

I'm all about structure. Organising is my middle name. I really enjoy a good clear out. Hoarders are not my friends. I could browse around Kiki K and Howard's Storage World all day. But bloody hell, (pardon my french) I'm going to be happy when December rolls on by.

We're moving. Back to the big smoke. Goodbye beautiful country house. Hello modern apartment. Its been on the cards for a while and now its happening. Heaven forbid we relax around here ;) Did I mention we are moving in two weeks. We are. I'm a little stressed. I am stuffing TV snacks into my mouth as a distraction. Its not working. Did I mention I need to find an office too? I do. I'm a little stressed about that as well.

A little Oprah Winfrey party is the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm on top of the desserts.