"grown up and gorgeous in your 40's" - Wardrobe

Breezed through this section cause "I know that"...just a shame I didn't remember it when purchasing some of those disasters hanging in the wardrobe.  Is it any wonder Richard doesn't understand my "I've got nothing to wear" when there seems to be plenty hanging up in the wardrobe. 

While dark hair is a no no as it will age us, dark jeans or trousers are a yes yes as it will make us look slimmer.  There is also 7 tips for buying shoes.  I so miss the "no kids days" when it comes to shoes.  I had shoes for every occasion and then some...not quite in the Imelda Marcos league but more shoes than I had room for.  I'll never forget Richard's face when I moved in and he opened the wardrobe and saw all those shoes....good thing it took him a while to notice the handbags.

Other advice includes "Five 40's fashion faux-pas" and "Four bags you must have"... 

I've found that Mum is willing to share her opinion on "what's the go"...like the time I wore a singlet top and she told me that I was too old for that sort of top now and how could I forget her telling me that I was getting a "bit broad across the beam". Only a mother could get away with it.

If you want some more advice try "Top 10 Closet Must-Haves" by Oprah's stylist: 

http://www.oprah.com/style/Top-10-Closet-Must-Haves

I scored a big 4 out of 10.

Next chapter for me to read is 'Body".  Do I bother??

Just for my friend R, here's my "profound" thought for the day:

"Blog like there's no tomorrow".

Happy reading.

"grown up and gorgeous" in your 40's

My sister and I have started Op Shopping together in the school holidays.  Sometimes one or both of my nieces will come too which is delightful as I don't have any girls to shop with.

This little book as you can see cost me the princely sum of $1.00 and today while hunting in the study for some minutes I found it...again...

Contents include beauty, wardrobe, body, health and living.

I started on the "beauty" section today and how depressing...I'm sure they're describing people in their 60's aren't they?  They suggest botox, brow lifts, liposuction, plasma resurfacing, Intense Pulse Light, Fraxel laser, and radiofrequency treatment.  There are a couple of sensible suggestions, quit smoking, use sunscreen, eat well and exfoliate.  If I do these and start on the first lot of suggestions I may be able to avoid plastic surgery or at least delay it!!!!  What a ray of sunshine that is....

Oh goodness now I'm losing my hair - well according to the book chances are it's starting to thin.  Yes, actually they're right but only because my hairdresser does it.  As for grey hair, I would actually agree with the book that it did start to go grey around 10-12 years ago...  They suggest "softer, lighter colours are kinder to the aging face".  Ok I think they may be onto something with the hair colour.

Looking forward to reading the chapter "wardrobe".

Enjoy your Sunday night and love the skin you're in!



Spring rain

Thank goodness for spring rain.  While hunting around the garden on Thursday for demolished puppy toys, I spied a punnet of zucchini seedlings.  They were looking quite sick, probably something to do with being confined in the seedling tray and not being watered.  So I quickly got them into the ground and watered.  Didn't look much better the next morning but today after some consistent rain they've lifted their little heads.  Fingers crossed that I didn't leave it too late and that I'll get a good crop.

This is my latest book purchase, "Don Burke's Guide to Growing Organic Food".  I've got high hopes that with a little bit of help from Don I will actually have a little bit more success than usual.  I always get something from my vege garden but I'd really like more.  This season I've planted tomatoes, peas, corn, capsicum, and of course zucchini.  Now I just have to patiently tend to them, talk to them and remember to water them.  

In the garden this week.

I love our garden this time of the year and in autumn.  I love the way some trees are leafy and green and other trees are still waiting.







The trees above are as thick and dense as they'll get for the coming summer.  While the Chinese Elm starts at the top and bottom with new leaves then slowly fills in all over.



The pear tree is full of blossom while the apple tree has only just started this week.

And of course I love the fact that I planted only blue irises but now have yellow ones too!





I'm looking forward to using the hammock to read a few good books this summer.  How about you?  Do you have a favourite spot in the garden?





Turning 17...

The eldest son turned 17 last week.  His first birthday where being with friends was more important.  He'd slept over at another party the night before. So we didn't get to wake him by singing or pretend that we'd not got him anything, no party preparations to do, just nothing.  He got home around 9.30am, had some food, went out to another friends, collected sleeping bag etc left behind at party, came home, ate, slept, ate (we went to KFC) and went out to a movie night.  And that was that...done for another year.  Thank God for puppies...they need me.

Here they both are helping me cook.  The eldest is just a bit younger than the character Hugo, in the book "The Slap" which by the way I've finished.  Did you or do you slap, smack or hit to discipline?  I worked out  that physical discipline wasn't going to be very successful for me...yes a quick smack got their attention and when they wouldn't go to their room for timeout I could carry them there but...they were going to be bigger than me.  We did the counting method.. 1, 2,...it's nearly 3 and yes sometimes I counted in quarters too - two and quarter, two and a half, two and three-quarters...lucky me I rarely got to 3.  We used our "parent voice" and gave them "the look" and the "time out" which of course relied on counting, voice and look to get them to their bedroom when they were up to mischief.  When they were older threatening to confiscate goodies, not take them to sport or "ground them" worked a treat too.  Fortunately we've not yet had to ground either of them - touch wood.

What about you as a child?  My Dad had the boniest hands and yes they hurt.  I remember coming home late from a play and trying to sneak in.  Dad was behind the door and I got one fair and square on the bum.  Not sure what was worse, the smack or the fact that I didn't think he'd be there. I do remember a smacked bottom from Mum when I wouldn't go to the babysitters and she was trying to go to work.  I think I would of been under 4 because the babysitter changed when I started kindy.  I also remember a slap across the cheek, around 10 years old, I must of really been pushing some buttons that day, and just laughing at her with a "that didn't hurt".  Meanwhile thinking  "Mum hit me", I was totally floored. But the best one was being chased down the street with my friend and her brother as their Mum pursued us with the wooden spoon.  Can't remember what we did but when they said "run", I ran.  Imagine doing that today.

Hope you're reading a good book. TTFN.

Celebrating our 20th Wedding Anniversary

Sunday 7th October, 1990

Would you believe that we've been married 20 years.  Richard asked me to marry him on April Fool's Day, after midday, so it counted.  He thought we'd have a leisurely engagement but after knowing him for around 5 years I wasn't waiting any longer than necessary.  So 6 months later we became Mr and Mrs...

I tried my dress on at the 10 year anniversary and couldn't even get the zip half way up, hate to think about how much of me would fit in it now...I was only 47 kilos when I got married... My friend, M, tried hers on at the same time and yes she got the zip up.   How many dresses did you try on before you found "the one"?  I tried on some beauties - lol - glad Mum and Dad were with me on one occasion otherwise I would of looked like a ball of fluff.  Dad's face said it all and Mum's tactful "mmmm" confirmed Dad's face.   

We were married in St. Peter's Cathedral, North Adelaide, so I had one very long aisle to walk down and parade the dress.  Did momentarily look at another church but such a short aisle!

Several married couples in the book "The Slap".  Would I swap places with any of them?  No...never...not at all.  What I would like to do, is jump in the book and give them all a good slapping...  So many men you'd never take home to mother.

Happy reading.





Putting off the inevitable...

I know I've got to do it, how much longer can I put it off.  I really shouldn't allow someone else's opinion to influence me but it has.  Experience has taught me that sometimes the thing you're dreading the most is quite enjoyable once you do it.  So I've promised myself as soon as I've had a shower, done the dishes, put on some washing, done the ironing, and collected the dog business that I'll get started.  What is it?? "The Slap" by Christos Tsiolkas.  I borrowed it from a friend last summer, started it and then gave it back unfinished.  It was a struggle and because no-one else had liked it I gave up.  Now fate in the form of bookclub has bought it back to me.  So today is the today and fingers crossed that first impressions are wrong.

If you're looking for a book to read try "Room" by Emma Donoghue.  One review is "Room is a book to read in one sitting" and quite right a couple of us in bookclub did.  It's all about Jack and Ma who live in one room - eleven feet by eleven feet.  You'd like to think that it's a made up story but recent times have proven that it happens.  It was one of those books that I had to read a page in the middle and a paragraph at the end just to make sure that I could continue to read it.  Fortunately neither cheat gave away the ending.