Since Saturday

This weekend we had Mum & Dad's Christmas dinner as it's the year away for those of us that have interstate families-in-law.

On Monday a knock on the door rendered my new summer espadrilles.  I shopped in one of the US sales over at 6pm.com and to quote my friend Tamma, "they were practically free".

I had them shipped by new mail forwarder US to OZ

I also whipped this cake up for Mister B to use up some almost way overripe bananas and didn't let the fact I had no eggs deter me.  I know.  Just call me Martha.

Monday night was my little niece's first ballet performance, they put on Pinocchio.  It was beautiful and the little theatre was filled with teary members of las familias.  The other sisters cried at the matinee performance on Sunday so I knew to come prepared with boot loads of tissues :)  Very proud.

Getting in early.

Then Tuesday it was off to lunch with my lovely friend Ash and her Evan and my three little gatecrashers. Followed by some quick retail therapy and a slight misstep in this afternoon's smooth running that caused me to be roped into my first EVER Santa photo.

Just because the chilens asked.  Supreme sacrifice on my part but haven't yet learned how to say no to them :(

FYI, his holiness should be the only red blob in a Santa pic.

Then quickly, you know I never like to miss a Duchess of C moment and since Saturday there have been two.  First, wearing Alexander McQueen at the Sun's Military Awards and then in chic Ralph Lauren at a homeless shelter today.    Some of you will say she's too thin I'm sure but I for envious one, think she's looking great.  Naturally the press wasted no time drawing the never exhausting comparisons between the evening dress and one Diana wore once.  Naturally no one else ever before has ever worn a black, sweetheart neckline.  It's mind blowing stuff.

 

Images from here

Well I think that covers it my lovelies.  I certainly plan to come back and wish you all a Merry Christmas before Sunday but just in case I don't, MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Hope it's the best one yet!

Nicolex

PS  If you didn't already know the January issue of Vanity Fair is out and I love that this is the cover circulating in December.  So festive.

All Caught Up

I have no idea where the last 10 days have gone since I last posted, what I do know is that every time I've looked at my dormant blog since then I have been taunted by that wretched card post.  I have already burnt out and it turns out this year is shaping up to be no different to any other.  Will I ever learn?

Anyhoo, in an effort to catch you up on everything, here is a licorice-all-sorts post to bring you up to speed.  Firstly, I have bought some more ornaments.  In case you were wondering. Some sweet little hummingbirds from One World and a disco ball-cum-Chinese lantern (?) from our local party shop.

On Wednesday I found this lovely surprise over At Home with Sam & I were FHOTHR (still the clumsiest acronym ever)had been given a Liebster Award from Mimi.  It can only be given to a blog that has less than 200 followers so mine certainly qualifies :)  In turn, I would like to pass it on to the following 5 blogs not just because they like me, are yet to amass more than 200 followers, but because quite simply, these are the blogs I always read:

1. Annie Loveridge Interiors

2. Penguin Begets Penguins

3. Tomas & Jones

4. Wilona & Me

5.  Wishful Thinking

In the days of the old schoolyard we would have called this an encouragement award.  And I am.  Encouraged

That night I went out with the girls and saw New Year's Eve.  The film tells a labyrinth of stories meandering into one fabulous night in the world's most fabulous city, New York. It's no Love Actually (but there can only ever be one of those, more on that later) but I loved it. With all my heart.   The star wattage alone could light up Times Square for the evening, there's hardly anyone not in it!  I don't know if it was the movie or whether it was just because I'm so recently back from New York but I shed ACTUAL tears for the city.  Not the story line THE CITY, I miss it!.

Speaking of Hollywood, as you all know I am nothing if not shallow when it comes to all that sort of stuff and I was delighted to hear the SAG Award and Golden Globe Award nominations this week. You know what that means don't you - drunk acceptance speeches and RED CARPET FASHION!  Soon.  I'll keep you posted.

Now back to Love Actually -  while there are lots of things I love about Christmas, I especially love any Christmas traditions.  As I mentioned last year over here, one of them is the annual watching of Love Actually with Mister B.  And tonight good peeps, is the night!   I. Can't.  Wait.  I'm cooking chicken-something-or-other and after dinner we will settle in to one of my favourite nights of the year.

It's love actually.
Nicolex

Christmas Card Crisis

Every year I enthusiastically purchase my Christmas cards for the season, take out my carefully compiled list of loved ones and settle in to convey my Yuletide love to them.  And each year I'm burnt out by card #15 (on a good year, sometimes I don't even make 10) and I am left deflated and ruing that I ever started in the first place.

BUT I cannot be taught old tricks and this year I will once again attempt to get them all done and in the post before I lay me down to sleep on Christmas Eve (yes that is the actual cut off date I give myself so really no excuse to never have get through my list!).  So I plan to get started tonight and to get myself in the mood I've found these old cards to inspire (or not).

From the timeless elegance of Jackie...

Image from here

...to the so-right-now absurdity of Mariah.

Image from here

From those klassy Kardashians,

 Image from here

year after year...

Image from here

...to some actual class with the Windsors in 1987.

Image from here

Joan Collins...

 Image from here

...and the other big O with his family.

  Image from here

And finally, my pile o'blanks, waiting to be filled with words of warmth and wonder.  

Wish. Me. Luck.

Nicolex

Weekend Wanderings

This weekend we went down to Melbourne for a quick 24hrs (almost literally, our parking docket at the airport went from 13:53 on Dec 3 to 13:56 on Dec 4) where Mister B's cousin was hosting his annual Christmas Party.  

First stop was for some sweetness and warmth on Little Collins  (Melbourne weather was typically unpredictable and straight after a cuppa we went shopping for a coat)  Dropping in at the Laurent has become somewhat of a tradition for us now, remember when we visited back here last year?

So much fabulosity!

The party itself was loads of fun, and the apartment was perfect.  Mind you, I could only enjoy the beautiful view from the balcony in brave bursts as the wind out there was freezink!  It's December people.

Ahem, we may have been a few hours in when this photo was taken :)

Isn't dessert ALWAYS the best part of the night!

 

Walking down Little Collins...

...where we found time for one more stop at our favourite patisserie before flying back.

Naturally I found a few moments to grab another ornament for the tree...

...let no bough go unburdened is the new expression I have coined for my addiction.

So our first Christmas party for the year and the season is off to a flying start.  The pun is shameless.  I know.  Hope you've all had a good weekend, now am off to have dinner and settle in with the three new mags I bought today.  

I shall report back with any need-to -knows!

Nicolex

A Pinch & A Punch

Listen here good people, it's finally officially December so if you don't have your Christmas tree up yet...

 ...well, I don't know if we can be friends?

Nicolex

Southern Style

Today is Mark Twain’s birthday so a great excuse to indulge in some beautiful Southern architecture.  Firstly though, let me share.  Huckleberry Finn is one of my favourite books. SO MUCH so that for a brief and mad moment I contemplated the middle name Huckleberry for a boy should we ever have one.  I know.  Fortunately for the future kidling, Mister B vetoed my brilliant idea so chances are it won't be a goer.  Like I said, a brief and mad moment...now am sure you already know this about dear old Samuel Clemens but in case you don't allow me to bore you with this serendipitous little fact: he was born in 1835 during a visit from Halley’s Comet and died the day after the comet returned in 1910.   Interesting don't you think.  Rhetorical question.

So the really important stuff.  The houses.  I don't think they have been collated as perfectly as they are here in this beautiful book by Laurie Ossman and Steven Brooke.  You can grab a copy from Amazon for $34.65, barGAIN!

  Buy it here

A few of the homes featured...

Charles City County, Virginia

 Charlston, South Carolina

 Savannah, Georgia

Nashville, Tennessee

Natchez, Mississippi

So lovely, can't wait for my copy to arrive so I can enjoy it with some fried chicken and cool sweet tea :)  And on the note of fried food I am must dash off and get myself ready for the 7pm dance class (far too graceful a description of what actually goes on in my corner of the studio) I've started where I remain unmoved by my very obvious lack of talent :)

Have a lovely evening everyone,

Nicolex

Weekend Wanderings

Am back from the loveliest of weekends visiting a friend and her new bebe.   The first thing we did after pick-up was to drop in and visit Oliveaux's newly opened store in Woolloongabba.  Love!  Am cross at myself that I didn't think to ask Amanda if I could take some pictures to post here, she has created such an a-marzing space in there.  You'll just have to pop in yourselves.  Saturday was spent lunching and dinnering with friends and a lazy Sunday lolling around catching up on everything.  Utopia.

The digs.

I know.

The Oliveaux loot.

There's only so much you can fit into an already overweight suitcase.

The pie.  Coconut Cream.  Wicked.

Sadly I didn't take any pictures of our finished 'pa' so 

you'll have to 'make do' with one of Martha's.

Old friends are the comfort food of company don't you think.  Rhetorical question.

Nicolex

Fashion Friday: Posh & I

OK I am absolutely crazy about this colour combo and would like to thank the fashions gods that our very own CR has brought haute couture to the masses and to show my gratitude I have bought almost everything in their current collection.   Adore it.

Image from Country Road

So if I share some pictures with you of  Posh rocking the orange & navy at FAO Schwartz with her sweet bebe last week, does it give me a brazen excuse to whip my own FAO Schwartz snapshots?  I thought so.

I didn't have quite the entourage on my visit BUT my tin soldier was much cuter.

Posh working one of the lewks from her own collection.

Me working my own navy & orange lewk in Central Park (and yes it still feels a-marzing to type that) last month...

...and in the combo again in DC (along with a whoopie pie and subway fall bandaids accessories).

I know what you're thinking, she & I could be twins :)

Have a great w/end peeps.  I for delighted one have fled the southern rain and are coming to you live from sunny QLD.  Love.

Nicolex

At Home: Hilary Swank

It's been a few years since Hilary Swank made Academy Award history by becoming the youngest actor to win 2 Oscars.  I really like her, she seems like someone with substance...because I know her so well.  Anyhoo, her home is featured in the December issue of Elle Decor and I was interested to have a look.

There's something about this room I find very peaceful and I heart the greenery.

Image from Elle Decor

The kitchen's a bit too sensibly tidy for me.

Image from Elle Decor

I'm coveting those lamps.  Love.

Image from Elle Decor

A little nook.

Image from Elle Decor

Loving the mirror, photograph and floors.

Image from Elle Decor

What do you think?

Nicolex