The house of a million treasures.

 

We have just returned from our little holiday in beautiful Bermagui after an eight hour car trip (eeeeuuuurrrggghhhh!!) and I am now surrounded by towers of suitcases and unpacked clothing that needs to be put away. I'm hoping that as I write this the cleaning fairies will pay me a visit and magically, wash, iron and hang everything.

(One day they will come, they really will!)

Whilst I procrastinate I thought I would share some pics of Gran and Pop's cool and uber kitsch abode in Bermagui.

Gran and Pop are my husbands grandparents and are in their 80's but continue to be pillars of the community, with Pop entertaining "the old folks" in aged care facilities with his piano accordion prowess, and Gran being on every committee, donating countless hours to all manner of organisations (she was awarded an Order of Australia for her voluntary work) as well as fitting in golf, tennis, bowls and darts.

These people are amazing and down to earth and not a little quirky and their house reflects their wonderful personalities. They come from an era when you had to make do and mend and almost every aspect of their home reflects this ethos with patchwork like repairs and  hand made modifications to their tiny dwelling.

Why throw away that broken toilet when you can use it as a plant pot?

Why not use a car door handle in your outdoor dunny?

Why throw away those food scraps when you can feed them to the cows that live in a paddock across the road?

They are both firm believers in the repair, reuse and recycle lifestyle, which is so refreshing in this throw away age.

They haven't really updated their decor (why bother if it still works?) since the 50,s and 60,s and so their house and sheds are full to bursting with retro furniture, bits and bobs and thingy-ma-jigs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I went a little crazy taking photos but I just kept finding more and more that I fell in love with. 

 

I was so sorry to leave and say goodbye to those special people (and that cool aqua bathroom!) but I have soooo many more pics to share of our Bermagui adventures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Birthdays, breakfasts, bling and bands.

My clan is currently having a wee break in stunning Bermagui, which is the sweetest little coastal town in NSW. We are staying with my husbands grand parents who are just awesome, and I have gone absolutely bonkers taking photo's of our trip and of Gran and Pop's house which is full of retro kitch-tastic treasures.

But I will bombard you with those later because I have only time for a quickie (ooohhhh, missus!) to fill you in on my birthday celebrations of last week.

Now I am not one to go cra cra on my birthday because I really don't want to admit to anyone I'm getting older. I am constantly trying to tell myself that I am still a young slip of a girl and hate when birthdays burst my bubble and inject that awful harsh reality stuff into my life.

I try to not act my age, not dress my age and generally not think of my age if I can help it.

I even work in an aged care facility where I can be guaranteed that I will look like one of the youngest there. (There is that damned Betty, who is 89 and has the best skin EVER and hardly a wrinkle. She tells me that it is all due to wearing a hat and having a brandy every night.

Damn you Betty!)

Any whoo I had a wonderful breakfast out with my kids where we feasted on only the healthiest fare.

 

As you can see I have to really watch what I eat now I'm getting older!

 

Yeah, he ate all of that. I really don't understand where he puts it.

The kids where dropped off (thank the lord for  the parents in law) and the Mr and I were joined by friends for a night of hilarity and loud music.

 

 

There were blinged up glasses.

 

 

There was a blinged up elephant. (Oh if only he had fit in my handbag)

 

 

There were beverages. With novelty sized pink parasols. As you do.

 

 

And there was punk music. A lot of loud and energetic punk music.

 

 

Go Pennywise!

So all in all, a great birthday of not acting my age.

Hurrah!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Tales from the sewing pile

 

This is what my sewing pile used to look like.

Poor forsaken souls lying crumpled and unloved in a corner, desperate to be hemmed; to be taken in; to be mended; to live again!

 

(Drum roll please)

 

Now behold!

 

 

Look at those happy content little possums.

All feeling fresh and newly invigorated. But most of all feeling pretty and purposeful once more.

Yes, I finally tackled some of my lovelies that needed some TLC and attention.

I'm not joking when I say that some of those poor dresses had been waiting in that dusty heap for a good year. I know, I know. For shame!

But now I can show off these lovely ladies in all their stitched and altered glory.

 

 

 

 

This 1960's "Alcorso" dress was burdened with oddly unflattering sleeves, but now with a nip and tuck she is finally fit to be worn. I love the roses on the cool black and white geometric pattern.

 

 

The middle frock is a divine "Geoff Riddell" shirt dress and was rescued from a Savers. It fitted like a glove everywhere, except the length which skimmed my ankles. Now it sits at a perfect below knee length that is much more me.

I had to hack off the sleeves of the amazing homemade vintage black dress with great bright green, orange and purple floral pattern as the style was doing nothing for me. And now with the new sleeveless design and a cute bow at the front it is ready to worn.

 

 

Now I am very likely upsetting many a vintage purist with my hacking and hemming. Sacrilege!

But in my defence I'd like to ask that isn't it better that I alter these frocks so I can actually wear them and thus these lovely dresses can be worn, appreciated and be loved again? I think so.

What do you think?

Have I committed the cardinal sin of the vintage loving girl?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Easter!

Image found here

 

I hope everyone had a marvellous Easter!

I had a super / busy / fun / manic / wonderful day yesterday with all my favourite people, gorging on chocolate (chocolate is OK to eat for breakfast on Easter, right?) ,cakes, pastries and then more chocolate. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

As non religious people Easter is more about spending time with family for us, and it is a bit of a tradition for the extended family to flock to my house for afternoon tea and an Easter egg hunt in a park across the road from us.

Oh, and chocolate.

But mostly the day is all about hanging out with loved ones and making sure the kids are having

a hoot.

This year my kids and I got good and messy making an Easter egg tree inspired by Aunt Peaches fab creations.

 

 

 

 

And "ta-dah", the finished product.

 

 

 

We were pretty chuffed with our lovely centrepiece, even if it did try and poke every ones eye out!

The weather tried to sabotage our Easter egg hunt (I knew I'd be cursing the rain soon enough - I'm never happy am I?), but thankfully we were spared a downpour and a very fun hunt ensued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the gazillion chocolate eggs that the Easter bunny was kind enough to leave for us, we retired to a groaning table full of cheesecakes, custard tarts, lumberjack cakes, cheeses and yeah, chocolate.

 

 

 

Yum yum yum!

What does one wear for hunting eggs and gorging on chocolate?

 

 

Stupidly, I didn't wear a skirt with an elastic waistband. When will I learn?

Even now, on Monday, I'm still high on sugar and happiness.

I do hope that Easter brought everyone love, family and yes, lots of chocolate!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



We all need a little 80's in our life.



 

I wish I had the courage to show you a photo of me from the 80's.

But I don't.

Rest assured that, for a very young girl, there was an abundance of neon lycra, masses of leg-warmers, uncountable terrible hair-do's, many of them featuring BIG hair (I was so cool I was allowed a perm when I was 12!) and heaps of ill fitting matching skirt and jumper combo's made of polar fleece. Uuuugggghhh!!

But you know what? Not everything from the 80's was so hideous.

Hits of the 80's will always have me busting out some Molly Ringwald-esque moves on the dance floor. Always.

And how amazing is this early 1980's cotton dress I found op shopping not long ago.

Is it leopard print? Is it floral?

Yeah, its both!

I added the peter pan collar because I thought a bit of "school girl" was another style to throw in the crazy mix.

 

 

 

 

It is just such a fun print with bright pink, blue and a splash of yellow .

 

 

And it feels so lovely and comfortable on, light and breezy and perfect for the  beautiful Autumn weather we have had lately.

 

 

(That's me enjoying a little bridge action in the sun. Don't tell me that you don't like hanging out on bridges squinting into the distance.)

 

Anyhoo, I am up to my armpits in frock mending and altering so I must fly.

I will show off all my freshly hemmed and finished frocks soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lions and tigers and bears. (Oh my!)

 

After a horrendously busy week at work (grrrrrrr) and feeling tired and cranky, I thought a day out was in order for my kids and I. So on Saturday off we traipsed to the Melbourne Zoo.

I LOOOOOVE THE ZOO!!!

(You can't see me but I'm bouncing in my chair and yelling in my excitement!)

 

 

The zoo unleashes my inner child, and I run from exhibit to exhibit, squealing at each new discovery and looking in awe at the amazing world of these exotic (and not so) creatures.

I couldn't drag myself from voyeuristicly (that is now a word) watching the apes.

There was a younger ape that was obviously in the bad books with the others. God only knows what heinous ape crime he had committed (because throwing your own poo at others is pretty normal I hear), because the others kept avoiding him like he had ape herpes. He'd amble over, all "Hey Sheryl, whats up?" and then Sheryl ape wouldn't make eye contact and with her head down shuffled off muttering, "So yeah, I just gotta, um, do stuff over here, like..... wash my pelt, so......"

And every time he'd approach another ape it would happen again. Poor guy.

 

 

 

The Melbourne Zoo grounds are so incredibly stimulating yet so relaxing at the same time. Invigorating and serene all at once. I found the meander through many of the wild tropical forest areas the perfect tonic to my busy week.

 

 

Of course my kids had a blast. When they weren't running, climbing, hiding, bouncing (they never just walk!) they were enthralled by the game of "spot the animal" and then read about the creature.

 

 

We were all enraptured by the exploits of the elephant family, and loved how they were so affectionate towards each other, nudging (cuddling) and holding trunks (kissing). The baby elephant was even being a cheeky little bugger, standing on his hind legs at the back of his mum and blowing sand on her rear. Bloody children!

 

 

Some of us got very up close and personal with the reptiles.

 

 

Some of us got very up close and personal with wooden animals.

 

 

And animals from days gone by.

 

 

 

 

I hear that the butterfly house was lovely, but I think you must be a raving loony to want to go into that horror filled cage infested with those disgusting flappy creatures. Eeeuuuggghhhh!!

I loathe and despise moths with their awful dustiness and butterflies are just glammed up moths.

You cant fool me and tell me that if they got the chance those revolting little blighters wouldn't be at my jugular in a flash.

(I may have issues with butterflies. Just saying)

 

 

Of course I only got one photo of all of us together (so I cant show off the cutest gingham Dangerfield skirt), but I manged to capture every other feathered, furry or scaly beastie in photos so I'm pretty happy that as well as amazing memories we will also have some cool pics of our wonderful day at the zoo.

Has any one else been to the zoo lately?

 

 

 

 

 



The smoothie of doom!!!!

 

I caved.

I made it.

And of course it is the most delicious, the most tantalising, the most scrumptiously decadent bloody smoothie on earth. Damn it!!!

Since my will power imploded I have made this delight many times.

Some may say TOO many.

My children would say not enough.

My taste buds would concur.

My tummy, arse and bingo arms would vehemently declare that this divine treat should be a forbidden item. One of the "those which should not be cooked" recipes in the naughty back section of my recipe collection.

 

 

Try it if you dare!!!! (Cue evil laughter)

 

 2 frozen bananas (I always have slightly 'gone' bananas in the freezer now)

1/4 cup Greek or plain yogurt

1 cup milk

1 heaped tablespoon of cocoa powder (I use dutch cocoa)

1 heaped tablespoon of peanut butter

Small handful of ice cubes

Blend all ingredients well in a blender.

Enjoy and praise the universe for such delicious drinks.

 

If you omit the milk and ice-cubes and maybe throw in another banana you can make a lovely ice cream that only needs to be popped in the freezer for a couple of hours before eating.

 

Don't blame me when you become addicted and start to get the shakes if you don't get a daily fix.

I blame The Dainty Squid, because I was inspired by her recipe.

I merely altered it to suit moi.

 

I've gotta run, domestic duties call me and I can only ignore them so long.

(Damn the need for clean underwear. Damn you!)