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.

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

All in (2) Day's Work

Sometimes I don't know how the weekend got here and then I'm not sure where it's gone but in this one we managed to re-plant the Beatrice Emily's I very lazily put in back here.  Note to self, a hole in the grass does not a flower bed make.

The Beas are already looking much chirpier.

More importantly we started the makeover of the backyard.  Methinks the plants may as well get a head start on the renovations.  My beauty gift to the planet is this - I will be  covering every urglee inch of our colorbond fence with hedge.  You're welcome.  As of yesterday, the magic has begun as we've started putting in more Murrayas (Orange Jasmine) around the circumference of the yard.  I love their shiny dark green leaves and their scent while flowering (which they do numerous times a year) is quite exotic.  More to the point though, along with our Gardenias and hopefully the baby Beas, they are the ONLY plants we have managed to keep alive in our 6 years in the house.  Green thumbs we are not.

On their way to the backyard.

Of course at this time of year it wouldn't be a weekend without a last minute dash to the shops and naturally as my Christmas motto is let no stone be left unturned in the hunt for new and fabulous ornaments, I didn't.

So much fabulosity.

This morning I spent a pleasant little while adding them to our flailing tannenbaum, there's starting to be some serious weight in there.  Because I'm a sharer I'll tell you where just in case any of them are speaking to you personally:

1. Little gold bear & aqua sequin ball are from Freedom.
2. Clear glass pear is from Country Road.
3. Miniature bells star is from Witchery.
4. The cute little birdhouse & gold butterfly are from Bed Bath N Table (and with the birdhouse coming in at $6.75, I am a saver!).
5. The silver teardrop (that opens),  big-eyed dog, vintage glass scenes and initial ornaments ($3.95, did I mention SAVER) are all from Domayne.

Then it was off to my regular Monday after school date with a quick cuppa before ballet...

...and tonight I'm looking forward to catching up on my new favourite shows.

The day is done.  Hope you've all had a lovely weekend and this week is shaping up OK too :)

Nicolex

Happy Birthday Sister

When I decided to start doing birthday posts over here I didn't stop to think in 2 days time I would have to be writing one for a sister.  Overwhelming.  How do you put in words what a sister means to you?  Please tell, as I really do not know!  Rather than tying myself in impossible knots trying I'll just tell you a few quick things I love about my sister Rachel.

 Rach

Rach is thoughtful.  Mum says she always has been.  Knowing I'm a bit of a 'fraidy cat when Mr. B is away, Rach texts me before she goes to bed to let me know she's sleeping with her phone by her side in case I need to ring in the middle of the night.

Rach doesn't fuss, she just gets in and does it.  Whether it be house stuff, school stuff, church stuff, family stuff, she doesn't waste time talking about it, she just does it.  This daydream believer should be taking notes.

Rach loves her kids to distraction.  She walks her own race and tries her darnedest not to get caught up in the game.  Like most mums, she is in there striving every day to be the best possible one she can.

Rach lets me be a big sister by sometimes running ideas and concerns for her kids by me (despite me not having any of my own).  She trusts my intelligence and my love for her poppets, knowing I too want the very best for them and I love her for recognising that.

Rach has the same dry sense of humour as I do.  I don't know how many times we've rung each other unable to breathe let alone speak for laughter as we've tried to convey a particularly hilarious incident that we each know the other will get immediately.

Rach is generous.  Very.  With her time, with her money, with her home, with her things. All of it.  She has 3 kids, I have a part-time job yet she'll end up being the one making a cake for me to take to a do because some somehow I have personally misplaced 5hrs in the day.

Mum, Rach & I

As I read back what I've written I'm frustrated that words as always have let me down and I can't truly tell you how I feel but Happy Birthday Rach.  How lucky was I when you came along two and a half years later.  Rhetorical question :)

Nicolex

I Heart NY More Than Ever

Well I've been back for a little over a week and I'm already devastated at how faraway it all seems.  To wake up one morning looking out over Central Park and the next out at familiar suburban power lines is quite a shock to the system.  BUT it is good to be home and as I can't possibly describe how fabulous it was to finally visit New York, I shall let some of our holiday pics attempt it instead.

Bethesda Terrace

                      The Reservoir in Central Park                   Bryant Park

                           The Russian Tea Room                         Tiffany & Co

The Flatiron Building

               Checking out of the Waldorf                 The view from our room at the Plaza

                          Last night in NYC                             Empire State Building

The Plaza (from Central Park)

9/11 Memorial

The Guggenheim

Looking up at buildings on Central Park West while rowing on The Lake

                      30 Rock                        Wall Street Bull               NY Stock Exchange

                       Afternoon Tea at Palm Court                Upper West Side

Time Square

A waldorf salad at the Waldorf

Aboard the Staten Island Ferry

On the Hudson looking down towards the Statue of Liberty

The Mall in CP.

Loved every minute of it.  Can't wait to go back.

Nicolex

PS  Yes, this is just yesterday's post updated with labels on the photos.