Secret present buying? Yes.

For the last three years our family has tried to cut down on present buying.  I'll admit, we used to go bonkers at this time of the year - purchasing $100+ gifts for each person, and well that quite frankly adds up when you have sisters with partners, kids and sister in laws etc.

So we all decided that we'd only purchase for the little ones, and just do a secret santa gift of a $100 voucher.  (Everyone would write down their name on a piece of paper with the name of a shop we'd like our voucher at, and then we'd all draw one out from some type of festive hat/bowl).

This year, we decided that we wouldn't even do that.  We'd just buy for the kids, and seeing as we're older, and our whole family is spending Christmas together holidaying at the beach, we figured that would be a beautiful enough present.

This is what I thought, until, yesterday - yes, yesterday one week before Christmas - I had this conversation with several people in my family.

Mum: Don't go into the spare room, Meghan.

Me: Why not?

Mum: Because there are things in there I don't want you to see.

Me: Did you buy us Christmas gifts?

Mum: I'm your mother, if I want to buy gifts for my daughters I will.

(Then, mum continued to show me all the gifts she bought for my other sisters, whilst hiding mine underneath a towel).

***

Sophie: I'm really looking forward to Christmas, I can't wait to just relax at the beach.

Me: Me too, I'll be kaftan-ing it up. Ah, did you realise that mum bought us all gifts?

Sophie: I knew she would, she always does.

Me: What happened to the no-gift-buying-rule? Everyone does this every year. We get to Christmas morning and there are all these little 'secret' gifts under the tree. I feel so bad if I haven't bought anything.

Sophie: Well, I may have bought you and Sarah something really small each.

Me: What? Sophie, we said we weren't buying gifts. We are ridiculous....luckily I  bought you all something small last weekend.

***

Me: Sophie and Mum have both bought everyone gifts for Christmas.

Sarah: I know.

Me: Have you?

Sarah: Yes - just small ones though.  $30 each tops.

Me: Did you buy everyone something?

Sarah: Yes - but they're all really small. I got Justin and Jake really little things, nothing over the top.

***

Oh, sheesh kapeesh. We'll never learn.

Does your family do this?

It's hot, and there's 100

Following on from Bethy's post, I've added my shortlist for the Triple J Hottest 100 2011.

1. Husky - History's Door
2. M83 - Midnight City
3. Matt Corby - Brother
4. Noah and the Whale - Waiting For My Chance To Come
5. Bon Iver - Calgary
6. Boy & Bear - Big Man
7. San Cisco - Awkward
8. Digitalism - Circles
9. Grouplove - Tongue Tied
10. Wilco - I Might
11. Foster The People - Helena Beat
12. Emma Louise - Jungle
13. City And Colour - The Grand Optimist
14. Lana Del Rey - Video Games
15. Big Scary - Gladiator
16. Grouplove - Spun

Why can't we just vote for 16, Triple J? Why?

What are your votes going towards?

A conversation with a counter girl

I'm not going to try and cover it up, or lie - but I was actually most excited about David Jones on our recent trip away.

Yes, my friend, David. I could not wait to peruse those white glossy make up counters, with his enticing Christmas gift packs, specials and new prods, that are used to lure naive customers in on purchasing perfectly wrapped presents for themselves when they should be shopping for others.

I was sucked in on all of the above. I tested new lip liners, held up O.P.I nail polish swabs to my hands, contemplated a few new NARS make up brushes and even bought a Chanel eye shadow - which is totally justified below.

Me: I really want this eye shadow, I've seen it everywhere and I think the colour would make my green eyes POP!
Beth: It is really nice, I don't think it would be too expensive, I've got Chanel foundation and it's not bad at all.
Me: Right, where is the make up counter girl at? I'm not buying it if it's over $40 - that's my limit.
Make up counter girl: Hi can I help you?
Me: How much is this one?
Make up counter girl: $44
Me: I'll take it.
Make up counter girl: whoops, we're sold out.

* * *

Me: Do you think Myer would have it?
Beth: Yes, let’s go see, and while we’re there we’ll see if they have the Clinique Chubby Sticks gift packs

***

Me: Hi, do you have the Chanel Illusion D’Ombre Eyeshadow in Ebloui?
Make up counter girl: Yes, we do, it’s $48.
Me: I’ll take it.

Totally worth it though. That maroon/bronze delight in a glass jar is the best thing to hit my lids since my Clinique Truffle.

*Other minor purchases below.

NARS lip brush
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
CUE skirt and shirt.
O.P.I nail polish

G to the C

Last Friday, Jake and I packed up our things and headed away for a four day weekend at the the Gold Coast.  We were road trippin' to see the Foo Fighters in concert and to spend some time on the coast. 

It was a FANTASTIC weekend (Yes - deserving of capitals) spent shopping, wining and dining, bopping along to tunes and catching up with my beautiful Beth.

The Foo Fighters were absolutely, hands down the best live performance I've ever seen - big call - though completely worthy.  They played for 3 hours, and entertained the crowd the entire time with jokes, music trivia and raucous screams.  We had perfect spots too - standing on the grass as we danced, with the occasional fist pump ha!

The weekend wasn't all fist pumping and bopping though, we shopped, caught up with Beth, peer pressured her into purchasing a few make up items, and overshopped in Cue, before stopping in for cappucino and catching a bus home in the rain.

Jake and I wined and dined out at our favourite Italian restaurant, we had breakfast in Surfers Paradise, and the three of us got all dolled up and went out for dinner with a side of mini golf and icecream.

Go to Gorman

Hello there, pretty dresses.

You are all so versatile.

I could see me wearing you to work each day - cute tote on my shoulder carrying my laptop, newspaper clippings, and camera. 

Or, on the weekends - riding my bicycle, french stick in basket, fedora on head, and breeze in my hair.

Or, better yet, at a wedding - tan belt around waist, stacked heels on my feet and top knot on head.

Hey, I could also see you on all of my friends - shift dress for speech clients, cinched waist for cocktails on Flinders street and brights for the Brisbane markets.

Where can you see these fabulous frocks?  I can also see them on Betty, Joan and Peggy.

Covetting cuffs

I definitely prefer quality over quantity when it comes to accessories, and these cuffs are no exception.  They are just gorgeous.

The first one comes from Cue, and they have heaps of different varieties. I love their simple accessories - usually, they are located in a glass cased box on the counter, which just makes them look so special and alluring - ha.

Rachael Ruddick is the second cuff, and she makes beautiful bags, clutches and cuffs - of course.  I've seen these ones in my favourite store in Rockhampton, but they don't have the punchy citrus colour in stock.  I think I made the mistake of trying the cobalt blue on though; once try, you want to buy.  I will obsess over both of these cuffs until I purchase them, that is my problem.

Birthday wish list? yes.

1. Cue

2. Rachael Ruddick

Positive Post 6

Bonjour!

This is what's making me happy, amongst other things of course - it is the time to be jolly after all.

1. Being given flowers on my last day of work
2. Starting my new job, and loving it so much that I can't wait to get to work in the mornings
3. Wrapping my first Christmas present
4. Christmas edition magazine's
5. Archie painting roller doors

What's making you smile? A box full of kittens? All of your Christmas lights actually working? A racoon wearing a santa hat?

Fisherman's Creek

A few weekend's ago, Jake and I took off to the beach for the weekend to go fishing and just relax. It was really lovely.

We drove out to Fisherman's Creek early in the morning, fishing supplies in tow (and one very cute vintage basket that I spotted on the side of the road in an antique shop - luckily Jake is used to turning car's around on cue to go back to shops I 'spot' as we drive past.)*

We just lazed around in the sun, and I read some books as Jake fished away.

We ended up driving back in to Yeppoon to have lunch, and a quick little look around, before we spent the afternoon fishing off the rocks at the beach. It was a perfect day, finished with an ice-cream on the esplanade.

I always find the beach so relaxing, and our new basket was definitely a hit - carrying my camera, towels, snacks and magazines for me to read.



* Have you ever found any great finds on the side of the road, or in an antique shop? Those Ray Bans above were a $5 find in a shop while I was at Uni. 

All My Stuff

Whenever I read the latest Shop Til You Drop, or magazines alike, I’m always drawn to the section, “All My Stuff”, where they interview designers, shop owner’s, bloggers and all those in between on their favourite beauty products, house items, and entertainment. Have you seen this before?

They simply list the item type and the interviewee details what they love in one word or less. I love it, it’s such a random list– sometimes they even put pictures of the items around the list’s – and I immediately Google them, and ‘add to cart’ ha. But, I have an online shopping addiction, so that’s understandable for me.

Here is mine below. It’s large – too large actually. I struggled to condense.

What are your favourites – not all time favourites – what you’re using, reading, watching or loving right now, as you read this post?

BEAUTY

Foundation: Revlon Colorstay in Sand Beige

Concealer: Benefit Bo-oing in Medium

Primer: Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer

Eyes: Clinique Quick Eyes Cream Shadow in Muffin

Brows: Bobbi Brown Brow Kit in Mahogany

Lips: Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry

Bronzer: MAC Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden

Blush: Benefit Coralista

Brushes: MAC 163, 266 & 239

Serum: Grown Borago, Rosehip & Buckthorn Berry Facial Serum

Face Moisturiser: Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream

Eye Cream: Grown Centella Tetra-Peptide Eye Cream

Body Moisturiser: Grown Rosa Damascena Acai & Pomegranate Intensive Body Cream

Hands: Grown Vanilla & Orange Peel

Sunscreen: Invisible Zinc Face & Body Sunscreen

Nails: O.P.I in Skulls and Glossbones

Shampoo & Conditioner: O&M

Hair Brush: Body Shop

Hair Spray: L’Oreal Elnett Satin

Dry Shampoo: De Lorenzo Et Absorb

Perfume: Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola!

LIFESTYLE

Bedding: Anthropologie Rosette Quilt

Stationery: Bespoke Press

Candle: Woodwick in Cinnamon

Tea: World Par-Tea in Organic Vanilla Heavenly Chai

Coffee: Café Palazzo in Chocolate Macadamia

Art: Laura Duncan

Sleepwear: Country Road Frill Print nightie

Frames: IKEA Ribba

Jewellery: Elke Kramer

Vase: Have You Met Miss Jones? Log vase with mushrooms

Reading: River Cottage Veg Everyday

Watching: Risky Business

Listening: A Very She & Him Christmas

Baking: Red Velvet cupcakes

Towels: Country Road Sundaze beachtowel

Handbag: French Connection Florence Cross bodybag

Camera: Nikon D5100

B is for Baby Shower

Last Sunday my sister Sophie and I alongside lovely friends, got to celebrate Cathie, a beautiful mum-to-be at her baby shower morning tea.

We had been baking for days; I had been sewing bunting and lolly bags satchels, and Soph had dusted off the blackboard for the front porch. 

It was a lovely day, the weather wasn't too hot (the fans on her deck are heaven!), and everybody enjoyed themselves, as they sipped on cranberry punch, ate red velvet cupcakes, and played games well into the afternoon.

It was just dandy. 

*My sister Sophie is also pregnant, and that bump is starting to creep out from her shirt.

Oh, Dahling

I have expressed how much I love, the fabulous Miss Dahl many times.  I have also expressed how much I love, Hugh and all things fabulous cooking.

Sophie Dahl, is the queen of fabulous cooking.  I know, I know, Nigella is gorgeous, and noone can whip up a batch of brownies, or a beef hot pot better than this voluptious and lovely lady, but I personally think Sophie Dahl, gives her a run for her cooking apron.

The whimsical new installment, to Sophie's Voluptious Delights, is a new cook book that does justice to her recent television hit, The Delicious Miss Dahl.

I had this bad boy on order since January, when I found out that it would be in print, early September.  It arrived on plane via London, and I am loving this delightful cookbook with every turn of the page.

It's set out similar to her last book, with seasonal chapters, featuring recipes that dictate the vegetables, fruit and flavour in season. 

There are those recipes that are for special occasions - and the ones for Sunday afternoon picnics with a spiked cranberry punch.

I love the fresh produce, the frisky pictures, and the fabulous design aesthetic of vintage cups, enamel cooking pots and embroidered napkins. 

After flipping through this cookbook, you'll want to find a tin watering can to water your herbs and a wire egg basket with a vintage apron to accompany you on an afternoon walk down to the chicken pen to collect eggs for a home-made breakfast fit for the English.

Skip. Don't walk.

*I have an extreme girl crush, to the point where I'm concerned.
** But, who wouldn't?

Positive Post 5

1. Hand watering plants

2. Sarah's mulberry bush

3. Making red velvet cakes adorned with fresh flowers

4. Crumpets, 'Furberry' collar

5. Henry enjoying the summer sun, and watermelon

What is making you think positively lately?

A new pair of vintage Ray Bans? Soft serve ice-cream, or a poodle in a fedora?