Forgive me

Forgive me for I have sinned.

It has been over a month since I have last blogged. And in the greater scheme of things I know that sins like murder and voting for Tony Abbot  are probably worse and will gain a little more roasting time in hell but still, I feel pretty bad about my lack of blogging.

What is even worse is that for a while I could not even read blogs for our lap top decided to conk out and have a lengthy and expensive holiday in the repair shop. Oh how we suffered with no technology! Oh how we were so ill informed with no Internet!

But, hurrah, for all has been fixed and I have thrown myself back into a lovely long spell visiting blogland today. It is true that I should have been doing house work and home work, but as I am already heading into the fiery pits anyway for not blogging I might as well be truly naughty and irresponsible and have some fun whilst I am at it.

Gosh, what have I been doing over the last month?

Work....yep, still battling away at that.

Op shopping........you better believe it! I have become a regular at my work owned shop and have scored some fab shoes and accessories.

I scored this very boxy, yet very awesome, blue vintage jacket and quickly got to the job of revamping it to fit, and am very happy with the more tailored results.

See, much better! I am pretty sure that the last pic is of me showing off the sharp lapels but it also could be me smelling something bad. Hmmmm.

Enjoying the freshness of lemon and just loving this hand made knitted cardigan that I found in the kids section of the op shop. It just goes to show that you have to look everywhere when you op shop.

These little beauties of brooches were found at my works op shop and I know that they are just little plastic trinkets but I do find them adorable. I now have a little collection of these lovelies to brighten up an outfit.

I have to travel a little to hit some of my fave op shops but it pays off when you find stunning cocktail frocks that fit like they were made for me for only $7.99 each. Check out the rich pewter shades and bustle type ruffles of the frock above. And a pussy bow at the neck!!!!

I must be drawn to these shades at the moment because this shimmery metallic olive green cocktail  frock demanded to be mine too. How could I say no?

More goodies. And just to show that I am not obsessed with green 50's styles I found this fabulous pink, orange and purple number from the 70's. I do have some revamping to do (sorry vintage purists) but can't wait to don that bright happy dress.

Attended the "Heart of St Kilda" concert and despite a terrible head cold and sinus infection, enjoyed the great entertainers for a truly wonderful cause of helping the homeless and disadvantaged in the area.

Frocked up and gorged at a luxurious high tea with my pal.

Yummy! And also for a brilliant cause so I didn't feel so bad working my way through all of the goodies on offer.

So ladylike!

And last Wednesday my beautiful Little Miss turned four and we have celebrated with lots of gatherings and parties (and so much "Frozen" paraphernalia!) and cake. The little Miss is positive she has grown taller and when I look at these pics I have to agree. She looks so grown up!

I am sure there has been a lot more going on in my life but my poor old brain can't remember or recall much beyond what I had for brekkie this morning.

I do hope you all have been well and I hope that you can forgive me for my sinning.

I shall go read some more of your lovely blogs and redeem my self.

Sunshine on a cloudy day

I'm a month in to the new job and I am exhausted. Mentally and physically exhausted.

Buggered. Drained. Knackered. Plum tuckered. Wiped out.

My new job is not only viciously kicking my butt, it is wiping the floor with me afterwards.

I know it is still early days and I am hoping it will all settle down, but lawdy, I'm just not sure if I am up to all this hard work. After I had kids I cut down to part time work (because as we all know being a mum is a full time job in itself!), but now circumstances have changed and I am back to working 5 days a week again in a high pressure management position and so, at the moment, there just doesn't seem time for much

 else in my life.

And I miss my life! I miss my kids. I miss my husband. I miss my friends. I miss my home. I miss my op shopping. I miss blogging.

And whilst I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of my new residents, I have fast come to realise that with the disadvantaged backgrounds of my clients comes a whole ton of quirks, challenging behaviours, tricky personalities, and at times overt hostilities. I'm usually OK with getting cursed at (I bet I could even give them a run for their money with my potty mouth!), but there is one gentleman who appears to have taken akin to me in the strongest way, shooting me constant filthy looks as he walks past me, muttering obscenities all the way. Not only that, but he has also taken to stealing my things. I don't think I am special. He does behave like this with everyone, but as a freshie I think I just haven't quite learnt to cope with it yet.

On the whole I have come to love so many of my new residents, really enjoy collaborating with my co-workers and am in awe of all the amazing charitable work my company does, and I have grand plans for improvements and new activities to engage and entertain. If I can keep my eyes open and stop myself from fainting from sheer exhaustion!

I wore this ensemble way back when I first started my new job, and I have to say that I look a lot fresher than I do now. Definitely didn't have the enormous bags I'm sporting under my eyes at the moment. 

Pink always gives me a lift and this frock may have been completely unsuitable for our recent weather, but at least as I shivered and froze, I felt pretty.

So with all that is on my plate at the moment, I haven't had a chance to blog much, with kids, homework, and work taking precedence, and for that I am truly sorry. I try and grab spare moments to catch up on everyone's blogs but I apologise for not commenting. And as for my own blog, well, I have to attempt to squeeze a few more hours from the day and fit in some posts when I can. I adore blogging and feel so at home in the bloggy world, that I can't bear the thought of not being a part of it.

So for now, just a few happy cheerful frocks to pick me up as I groan and grumble.

I picked this buttery yellow vintage dress whilst op shopping one weekend and even though I have issues with the sleeves (I am just going to have to shorten them - I can't stand that elbow length!) I do love the sunshiny colour and geometric pattern.

And right now I need all the sunshine I can get!

Hopefully my life will settle down and I can achieve a beautiful balance of all aspects. Hmmm.

Is that really possible? Or is it always a mad scrabble of trying to fit it all in?

Any ideas on how to achieve balance? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Capes and collections

 I'm sure I am not the only girl that has succumbed  to one of "those" sites on the web.

You think that you will just have a cheeky peek and then before you know it, 6 hours has lapsed, you are trembling, slack-jawed and pop-eyed with all the hot, hot eye candy that fills the screen.

"It's OK to just look," you try and assure yourself. "I can stop anytime," you try to convince yourself.

But then with every gorgeous creation that that pops up on the lap top your appetite grows and you want more. Your need becomes insatiable.

And then one day, during the rocky journey of addiction, just looking isn't enough. You need more than just looking. More to tantalise. More to stimulate. More! But what can fulfil this desire? How can you sate this yawning need that overwhelms you and inhabits your every waking thought?

So, with heart racing, hands shaking and emotions in overdrive, you finally give in and do it.

You succumb to that beguiling temptress that is eBay!

Sometimes there may be a little guilt, but sometimes there is a soaring sense of bliss and triumph, of a battle hard fought and won. When there is success it is amazing. But when the victory is not yours, the disappointment is crushing.
Oh, I have long had a passionate affair with eBay. So many beauties up for grabs and whilst the loss of some of those lovelies (yes I am talking about you, divine emerald 50's prom dress!) hurt , I am always willing to get back on the horse and continue on my never ending search for vintage perfection.
So when I was invited by eBay to try out their new "eBay Collections", I jumped at the chance.
With eBay collections you can curate your beautiful eBay finds in to groups, adding little descriptions so that you are left with lust lists to set your heart  racing.  From a girl that adores making lists, it really is great fun to organise your must haves into easy to access and visual collections.
Don't take my word for it. Check it out. But be prepared to lose a couple of hours as you trawl through items from the delectable to the downright bizarre. If you would like to check out my missbandthebygones collections head over to eBay and  take a gander at the pieces that have me weak at the knees.
One of my collections was called "Caped Crusaders", and it was there that this cape became part of my little narrative. The more I kept working on my collections, the more I knew I HAD to have this one. It couldn't remain in just an internet collection, it had to become part of my actual real life cape collection.

And so I pounced and it was mine!

Smug face! Can you blame me? It is just so gosh darn gorgeous! Perfectly purple with a lush fur (faux?) collar that makes me feel like royalty.

I plan on taking this dame out for a spin this weekend when I am heading out to watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and I'm not sure if I am more excited at wearing my new to me cape or watching
Frank-n-furter prance about in fishnets. Sooooo excited!
What collections would you create with eBay Collections?

New beginnings

Consumed by stomach clenching fear and exhaustion (from way too many sleepless nights spent worrying about who I was going to talk to, be friends with, eat lunch with - very high school I know!), but with a huge strained and slightly desperate smile plastered on my face, I embarked on my new job.

After 11 years of being in the same job and knowing my colleagues and clients back to front, and inside and out, I am experiencing that awful state of constant confusion and ignorance.

Will I remember every ones name? Will I remember where everything is? How will I know what to do?

Overwhelmed is probably understating how I have been feeling. But I have been applying that wonderful piece of advice, "fake it 'til you make it", and I think that I may have fooled everyone into thinking that I know what I am doing. Maybe.

I have been enjoying some VERY interesting characters with rich (and often heart breaking) histories, and I love the company I've joined and all of the amazing charity work they do. The area I now work in is trendy and vibrant and I adore strolling down the gorgeous tree lined streets filled with old terraces and art deco heaps. And did I mention that I get to wear my own clothes (hurrah!) instead of the eeuurrgghh uniform that I was forever trying to cover up with bright flowers and crazy brooches so that I could ignore how depressing it was. And even though I am struggling with working 5 days a week again, and sorely missing that extra time with my kids and my op shopping jaunts, I do have the company op shop (yeah baby, we have an op shop!!!!) to delve in to and explore.

Do I sound like I'm trying to convince myself of how well my first week has gone and the positives of my new position? Yeah, well, I kind of am.

I'm still in that period where I remember nostalgically all the great aspects of my old job (and none of the horrible aspects like incompetent boss, cranky residents, ridiculous demands and crazy work load), and yearning for that comfortable feeling you get when you know everything about your job (comfy like wearing old slippers!). 

But that comfortable feeling often leads to complacency and stagnation, so even though I am super scared most of the time, I am revelling in the challenge of the unknown and hoping that the new beginning leads to new successes, new goals set and achieved and a sense of achievement from having the courage to jump in to this foreign situation when my brain was begging me to stay and hide.

Hurrah for new beginnings!

I have been playing it rather safe with my work wear this week, easing my new colleagues and residents into my often odd wardrobe choices. I don't want to scare them off too soon. 

But, oh, how I have been loving feeling like me at work and being able to express my personality through my clothes. Nope, never gonna get sick of that!

We have a long weekend here, so I am recharging my batteries after such a super charged week and I am looking forward to catching up on blogs, catching up with pals and sleeping in. 

Any tips on coping at a new job?

The skirt that goes with everything!

Sometimes you find a piece that somehow works with everything in your wardrobe.

Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to find that piece. A skirt. But not just a skirt. Oh no. 

To call it just a skirt would somehow lessen its importance in providing the ultimate cohesion in my chaotic and mad wardrobe. No, not just a skirt but THE SKIRT!!!!

A skirt made of the softest wool, in a huge circle skirt style, and not just featuring one shade like any other skirt, but displaying a multitude of hues in a technicolour tartan of such beauty and usefulness that when I spotted it in my local vintage shop, it actually took my breath away.

Isn't it brilliant? Can't you see this lovely being my winter go-to skirt?

Another new to me piece of frippery is this gorgeous cobalt blue crochet hand bag. I couldn't resist it. Someone has made this one with such love and care that I wish I could give them a big hug as a thank you.

This magical skirt appears to go with everything!

The skirt hasn't met any of my cardigans that it hasn't liked. And you know how thrilling it is for me when my pieces all match.

I have been revelling in our beautiful Autumn weather here and enjoying some mild days where I can wear my beloved tights, cardigans and heavier skirts

The op shopping gods have been smiling upon me again as I have been on a mission to expand my winter wardrobe with me finding this exquisite repro red coat that makes me feel like a Russian princess.

It has a detachable cape and the most luscious faux fur you have ever seen.

I'm linking this pic to Share in Style for my dash of red

I have also snaffled a vintage cape from eBay that will feature in an upcoming post because it is so divine it can't share the spotlight with anything else. (And OK, I haven't taken a proper pic of it yet!)

Remember me dribbling on about never winning anything? Well just to prove me wrong again, I won a fantastic giveaway from the gorgeous vintage genius Trish from Trish Hunter Finds, of a blogging e-course from the amazing Brittany of Va -Voom Vintage. You should have heard me squeal when I found out! I was sooooo excited and can't wait to learn more about blogging (I am rather allergic to technology!)

A huge thank you to both of those vintage goddesses!

I received a beautiful, emotional send off from my work and am looking forward (a little nervously!) to starting my new adventure at my new job in about a week.

Thanks again to everyone who wrote such lovely, supportive comments on my last post.

 Ladies, you are all awesome!

What's been going on?

How can it be Thursday already? Where have I been? What have I been doing?

I don't have the answers to those and so many other questions, but I can assure you I have been doing things. Boring things like homework granted, but I have squeezed in a little deserved op shopping and vintage collecting with a few new lovelies finding their way home with me. I will introduce you all to some of my new treasures as there are a couple of real gems that I can't wait to show off .

I also squeezed in a delightful Mothers Day which began with not the traditional breakfast in bed, but the less relaxing waking at the crack of freezing dawn for the little fella's football game.

The little Miss and I usually explore and go on muddy adventures in between watching proudly as the boy marks, runs and kicks with all of his might. (And gets good and dirty in the process!)

I was spoilt with a rose, a divine lunch out with my Mum and family,

a beautiful silver bracelet that I can't wait to collect charms for,

and some very sparkly earrings. Bling is always the perfect Mothers Day gift!

Anything else going on? Hmmm, let me think.

Oh, there is the small matter of.........

BEING OFFERED AND ACCEPTING AN AWESOME AND FABULOUS NEW JOB!!!!

Huzzah!

I was lucky enough to be offered a position in  an amazing organisation that cares for disadvantaged elderly people, many of whom have lived hard lives on the streets and battle with mental illnesses.

I am still so sad to bid farewell to my beautiful friends at my current job, but will treasure them forever in my heart and will always have some beautiful (and sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and sometimes just totally bonkers!) memories.

But I am really, really excited about this new position and all the great challenges the future holds.

I wanted to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of your incredibly supportive and caring comments on my last post. During a very bleak and dark period you guys provided me with the uplifting rays of light that were your insights and comments and helped me find my way out of that black tunnel of gloom. You all rock! Big time!

Ch..ch..ch..changes (and cliches)

Often when life turns scary and strange, upside down and alien with change, we turn to cliches. We whisper those well worn words to ourselves, mantra's against the fear.

"A change is as good as a holiday"

"When one door closes, another one opens"

"The more things change, the more they stay the same"

Cliches, so oft stated, but still saturated with truth. Full of comfort.

And when the shit hits the fan, cliches can console and offer hope.

For we have all been there haven't we, hunkered down under the weight of the fear, arms wrapped around our heads as the beast of change looms and menaces over us, threatening life as we know it.

But someone wrote one of those cliches, and so they must have survived the shit storm.

I am not exactly sure of what I am trying to say. I have a cyclone of words and emotions whipping about me and yet I can't seem to pin anything down to express myself properly.

I do know that I am sorry for not keeping up with my bloggy buddies and posts but I have felt like I have been at the bottom of a deep black hole and no matter what I did, I just couldn't climb out.

I am leaving my job of over 11 years and I am in such a mess of emotions. One minute petrified, another hopeful. Angry to sadness. Apprehensive to liberated. Flip flop. Flip flop.

When I began my position as Lifestyle Coordinator (surely there never was such a silly job title!), I was a footloose and fancy free single lady, and my job was my entire life. I nurtured it and bestowed it with my attention and gave it all of my love and care. I made it grow and thrive.

I know it sounds crazy, but before my kids, my activity program was my child. The residents I cared for were my family.

My life, over the 11 years, has been intrinsically entwined with the often amazing, always inspiring, (and sometimes grouchy, crotchety, and bitter) people.

I have shared meals with them, laughed with them, grieved with them and for them.

I have helped them and been helped by them. Sat with them on their final journey and welcomed them with open arms as they arrived to join our little community.

I have learnt so much from these peoples experiences and occasionally taught them. (Wonderful professional moment of seeing an 100 year old woman get 3 strikes in a row on Wii bowling!)

These people have loved me and allowed me to love them. They have given me bridal teas and baby showers, and there is a gentleman who never ever forgets my kids birthday with a home made card full of well wishes.

I have embarrassed myself in front of them too many times to count. Dressed as a royal, a flapper, a ballerina, a parrot, Scarlet O'Hara and Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I've been French, Dutch, Greek, Italian and almost every nation of the world. Just so I could entertain them and hopefully get some smiles and laughs I would make myself as ridiculous as possible.

I've danced with them, stimulated and challenged them and oh-so-many times been challenged by them.

Even my dogs have been a part of their lives.

We have experienced so much together, and I have bid farewell to so many of these people over the years.

And soon I will be but another person in a picture, because for so many of the dementia riddled residents, they don't even  have the comfort of memory to fall back on.

 And the idea of not being a part of these peoples lives wounds my heart to the core!

But now as I prepare to leave them I must put my faith in another old cliche, "everything happens for a reason", and trust that the universe, in all of its crazy wacky wisdom, has a plan for me and will place me where I should be.

And so this week has seen me sallying forth in my most professional attire (thankfully not a suit! Never a suit!), plastering on my most confident, "I-am-super-and-clever-and-you-would-be-lucky-to-have-me" smiles and trying to ignore the heart palpitations, rivers of perspiration and mouth that felt full of glue and porridge.

And you know what? I didn't have a sudden embolism when the prospective employers bombarded me with tricky questions. The interviewers didn't eat me. I didn't lose the power of speech. I didn't even pee myself.

Yay! Go me!

Who knows what will happen in the future, but after a dark period of tears and sorrow, I appear to have turned the corner on my grief at leaving, and am beginning to feel strangely optimistic at my prospects.

And no matter what, there are more important things in life. Like these guys.

And when life has a hissy fit and turns upside down, these guys are what get me through.