RIP Dr Patrick

I was prepared, but I wasn't  ready -

 

I feel like I need a little therapy session so I can move on.

We watch Offspring because we can relate.

Sure we don't all have the ability to put an outfit together like Nina Proudman or are carrying the child of a sexy Dr. but there is something that is relateable for everyone.

Maybe it's the parents in the midst of a mid life crisis, an awkward co-worker, a sibling that's gone off the rails or like me someone  a little neurotic with a vivid imagination.

I'm a big cry baby and have shed many a tear watching Offspring - Billie's battle to have a baby, when Alfie was born and of course the happy tears at the end of last season when we saw Nina and Patrick and the ultrasound.

Last night the tears flowed like never before, well not since Molly Jones closed her eyes a sthe screen faded to black leaving Bredan running through a field in Wandin Valley.

After coming to grips with Patrick's death and going through half a box of tissues I found myself obsessively trawling the twittersphere. 

WOW were people mad "How would you" "How could you" "I'll never watch this show again". There were hundreds  thousands of comments exclaiming this was the worst thing Channel 10 has done. 

What a brave decision the writers of Offspring made to kill Dr Patrick,  right as he and Nina had found happiness, right before he was about to finally discover the joys of parenthood. 

Today was unofficially declared "Be nice to an Offspring fan" day as the majority of a nation spent the day mourning a fictitious character - I couldn't even talk about it with out the lump in my throat returning, but then I found myself getting angry as I turned to social media for some solace and group therapy. What angered me the most as I read through the various comments over social media were the comments like "How cruel, how will Nina cope?" 

I love this show even more because shit like this happens in real life and unfortunatley the very sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one is a tragedy I know all to well. 

Circumstances that we can't plan for happen and we have to keep on keepin on. I loved Offspring before Patrick and I imagine I'll continue to love it even if the perv factor has been dramatically reduced.I'm really curious to see what becomes of Nina Proudman.

I get that a lot of people think it's silly to be so upset about a bloody TV show but  don't care. I invite these characters into my lounge room every week and I feel the need to grieve with my pretend friends and say my final farewells.

So goodbye Patrick. 

Thank you for breaking my heart - putting it back together and then re shattering it into a million tiny pieces and thank you Matthew Le Nevez for the regular Wednesday night date and eye candy. 

You will both be missed.

The Great Gatsby

I read The Great Gatsby in high school.

I don't think I enjoyed it at the time.

Actually I don't think I actually enjoyed anything I read at high school.

I love to read and I was excited when literature was an offered subject.

 I think I lasted about a term in that class after realising I really 

disliked being told what I could read. 

Probably a bad move in hindsight - ce sera sera.

I remember being about 19 (ish)  when Romeo and Juliet came out in the cinemas. 

I was definitely a Leonardo DiCarprio fan after seeing The Baskeball Diaries 

- which I initially went to see for Mark Wahlberg and took my basketball loving cousin

 to see. He was in shock with the realisation that this wasn't a movie about basketball.
But we were both amazed by Leonardo.

ANYWAY, I went to see Romeo and Juliet the day it came out. I went alone, 

I had to see it there and then. I was not disappointed. I saw it at the cinemas 
twice more in the following weeks and countless times since. 
And the soundtrack became my life soundtrack

Last Thursday I skipped my afternoon class to see The Great Gatsby. 

This time it was more about Baz Luhrman and Catherine Martin

than Leo, but the combination is perfection.

The reviews are mixed but I LOVED IT.

After having the soundtrack on repeat for weeks it was awesome to hear the songs throughout the movie and the costumes - breathtaking.

Now I just need to find some free time to see it again and continue to obsess about this dress

I must add, one thing between the movie and the book that really struck me was Daisy's likeability. In the book her selfishness is more obvious and I really sympathised with her in the movie. I'm kind of glad though. How divine is Carey Mulligan?

mother's day 2013

??? mashed potato ???

Inspiring

"Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare 

us are the ones we can take on and take control of."

This is too important to not share. READ THIS 

Edit -  I just wanted to add some links to some interesting articles.

 Cancer please F Off

Is this really prevention?

Solo

Last week I packed my bags and headed to Sydney.

On my own!

It was strange. I had been excited about some time alone, I planned 

to do some reading, watch a movie and enjoy a night with a whole bed to myself.

All this before spending ahighly anticipated day with The Creatives.

The reality was a little different than I had anticipated. 

I missed my little family, I left my chargers at home, which crossed the 
blog lovin and movie watching off the list and I didn't sleep very well.

I saw every hour on the bedside clock. I think it was a mix of anxiety and excitement.

After a restless night I got up before 6 and in a bid to erase the night before

I started the day with a little meditation. Then everything fell into place.

Like writing and blogging, meditation is something I am trying to fit in more of. 

Great start to the day. I then went for a morning walk through Manly to find a florist.

I started along the wharf, grabbed a coffee stop and after a couple of wrong
 turns ended along the beach, flowers in hand.

All before 8 a.m. 

I was ready for my adventure. 

After attending The Nursery with Tim last year I had super high expectations.

I can't even begin to articulate how amazing the day was.

Knowledge, yoga, tears, food for our bellies and food for the soul.

Beautiful people and sacred moments, two people leading the day

openly and honestly.

I didn't want it to end.

Loved turning online friends into real life friends

Manly I think i have a big fat crush on you

THE man, doing his thing and his beautiful family.

And a parting gift.

Like the nursery I left with so much more than knowledge.

A million thank you's.  To Tim and Jodi for all that they shared, to the beautiful Belinda who was more than an added bonus to finally meet. To the other gorgeous woman that I got to share the day with. You are all amazing.

And a big thank you to my mummy for getting my baby to kinder in time for story time.

You're the best xx.

My Wild

I had to share a recent find that I AM IN LOVE with 

 you are my wild 

I love how a photo can sum up a personality.

Here's a favourite shot of mine that I guess was inspired my You Are My Wild.

She really is my wild.

Next week I have a workshop booked in that I am super excited about.

I treated myself to The Creatives workshop for Christmas.

I attended The Nusery workshop ran by the wonderful Tim Coulson and didn't hesitate 

for a minute to book this. I thought I'd worry about the logistics later.

Not knowing the layout of Sydney I niavely thought I'd fly in on a super early flight and out again that night, but after working out getting from one side of Sydney to the other would be too stressful, I decided to treat myself to a night away. Trying to stay within budget and avoiding a shared bathroom was harder than expected but with a little research I have a place to lay my head free wifi and a whole bed to myself, fancy that!!!

I  need to devote more time to my creative side. I love taking photos but am always beating myself up with my lack of editing skills. The same goes for writing so I'm hoping this day can open my mind to turn those random scribbles into cohesive sentences, that not only make sense (always a bonus) but are entertaining as well.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but my nerves are overshadowed by the thought of the adventure and the added excitement of meeting an online friend in real life -

and who knows maybe this little old blog of mine won't be so neglected...........

April

Dear April,
WOW, you kind of came out of nowhere.
Is it just me or has one third of 2013 just zoomed by. 

It feels like only a couple of weeks ago that I started writing a post about becoming a uni student. Started I say, i never quite back to it and that was in February. 

So there have been lots of changes around here and as we start term 2 of the school year I feel like I'm only just starting to adjust now and working through the koas circulating my brain. This year my plate is full and so far 2013 has turned out to be chocka block!

The little lady started "big kid" kinder, while continually asking "When can I go to school?" and "Can we drive past school today?". It excites me and freaks me out equally. 

I love that she is so eager to learn and experience new things and hopefully it will be an easy transition to starting school, for her at least. I'm still struggling to think my baby is off to school, but enough of that talk today. I don't have any tissues within reach. (Not joking!!!)

Student life has been another huge adjustment and a source of lots of frustration. The study part is easy although not as stimulating as I had hoped. Dealing with the lack of organisation within the system has me pulling my hair out. Obviously government funding cuts have a lot to do with this but I fel like I could teach a few lessons in organisation and management. 

It's also taken a lot for me to adjust to working weekends. It's very quiet in the city on sunday mornings and I have a little mantra "It's only for  a few more months" that I play over in my head as I'm unlocking the doors when I'd rather be enjoying a lazy Sunday breakfast.

The icing on the full plate is we are currenty in the midst of finalising our plans to start building our new home. Again while that is SUPER exciting, another source of frustration as we are totally in the hands of council and the elements, and I won't even start the talk of budgets (BORING).

I feel like when my brain gets too full I turn to my blog in attempt to empty it a little. Maybe even some light relief. That usually happens for a week before it all gets too much again.

As I try to schedule catch ups with my friends I realise that life is just getting busier and busier for everyone. How did this happen, it doesn't feel like that long ago I could spend a few hours watching a Kardashians marathon. So while I do crave a little of nothingness there's a lot more excitement on the horizon for 2013 as I continue to perfect my juggling act.

If anyone has any tips on perfecting their juggling act, I'd love to hear them.

Happy Birthday to me

Birthdays are a funny thing.

It seems that as the years creep up, many people see the day of 

their birth as just another day.

Not me, no siree. 

It's time to celebrate, let loose, break rules, be treated like a princess 

and not feel guilty for eating a whole packet of peanut m&m's.

I'm not talking a tick-e-tate parade, but I love a bit of fanfare.

Knowing that I am surrounded by a majority that are of the "just another day" 

belief I decided to leave an open letter to my family.

I had already published a wish list, to make people's lives easier.

My theory has always been if someone s going to be spending their hard earned 

dollars, I would rather 20 bucks spent on something I want rather than 

$100 wasted on something random.

So this is what I left on the bench.

I was mocked for it, but it left little room for disappointed. I thought.
When it comes to birthdays I am the planner and the baker in my family, I figured this could help make my day "my day".

I often wonder where the line of high maintenance is.
Am I contradicting myself leaving a note so my expectations can be met, 
thinking it makes life easier or am I high maintenance?
Oh well I'll ponder that another day.

The point of my letter was proven though when late in the afternoon I caught 
the Mr paying a lot of atttention to his phone.
I asked if he had a new app. or if he was playing a game, to which he replied 
"No" but didn't elaborate. "Are you texting" I asked. With the speeding Yes that I got in reply I figured he was up to something.

After a little while he admitted that no one had organised a cake and he had been trying to work something out to no avail.

I wanted to be shitty I really did, but I decided it was my birthday and 

I wasn't going to ruin my day by putting myself in a bad mood.

So despite the little hiccup,the day was great.

 I spent time with my nearest and dearest, got to tick lots of things off my wish list and my day went according to plan, with an added mercy dash to Brunetti's.

I'd love to know if there's others out there who want to be showered in glitter on their birthday, because I certainly feel like I'm in the minority on this

Wish list

Apparently I am super hard to buy for but there is always something ridiculous I'm coverting.
I know I'm cutting it fine, but apparently some peeps are aiting for this.

There are plenty things that my heart desires - a new camera and the much dreamt about Chanel handbag but I thought I'd share a more realistic wishlist.

It's huge, impractical, beautiful and slightly ridiculous. 

So it's perfect for me!!!!

I freakin love it, I can't tell you how much I love this giant inflatable swan

It's as practical as plastic backyard flaimingos, but I love them too.

There's plenty of room on my arm for this bangle and this ring would TOTALLY rock my world. A girl can never have too much McQueen

I've been trying to track down a copy of this movie for years.

I'm loving these LOVESTAR vases SOOOO much. 

I have a thing for clear acrylic but the fluro pink........

Then of course these always room in my bookshelves for some new additions from my ever growing book depository wishlist.

xoxo

I'm ready too

Justified was a soundtrack to a particular era in my life. 

So I CAN NOT wait for new music from JT.

Hot Stuff

I love the start of summer, when the nights get longer and all you need is a 

light cardi for when the temperature starts to drop.

What I don't love is the middle of summer. Once the mercury hits 35+, 

I'm like confused bear wanting to hibernate in the wrong season.

Being a red head, with English blood running through my veins, the sun and I have never really been friends. As I get older my tolerance for the heat is almost non existant. 

I love a list. So to stop from wasting the day I made myself a list as soon as 

I got up this morning and lookey here, with this simple blog post I've 

already crossed something from my list.

On the cards for this afternoon is some blog ready - 

I'll definitley playing catch up with a few of my favourites

Top of the list is always http://fatmumslim.com.au

The inspiring and beautiful Belinda - http://www.billyandaugust.com

who I'm so excited to be meeting face to face in May

Then some time with http://www.timcoulson.com and http://cheandfidel.blogspot.com

and this combination is why I will have the pleasure of spending time with Belinda

as I have booked a workshop with these two. BEYOND excited!!!

 I'll check up on one of my dearest friends http://tigesandweince.blogspot.com.au

from there I'll probably lose more time than expected on pinterest as I attempt to complete something else from my To Do list by starting my birthday wishlist

Happy New Year

Oh Mr. Brand I couldn't agree with you more.

Everyday is a new day. 

I do sometimes question why we need the end of a calender to make a change. 

I do like the concept of  new beginnings though.

A fresh start is exactly what I've needed as I was glad to see the 
December calender ripped from the wall.

Like most people I was super busy. 
I felt like I'd been thrown here, there and everywhere,

Between work, play and life, I of course got sick somewhere in the middle 
because I didn't slot in any down time for myself. 

So now it's January and while there are still work, play and life 

commitments, the urgency has somewhat passed.

I don't really do resolutions for the above mentioned reason, why wait 

until the 1st of Jan to change something today. 

I do like to ponder on the year ahead though.

For the sake of this blog, 2013 is a clean slate.

Will I write more? I'd like to say I will but who knows?

2013 holds alot for me.

I am returning to study,

We are planning and building a new home,

and I will continue to wish the hands of time slowed down as Little Miss attends 
big girl kinder and we get her prepared for school.

So, bring it on 2013.
Let's see what you're made of

I hope you had a great festive season that left your belly filled with food 
and your heart with love.

xoxo