I heart Paddington!

My sister and I went to Paddington, {a gorgeous inner city suburb of Brisbane, in this instance, for those of you who don't know} to buy birthday and Mother's Day presents for our Mum!
We also did manage to fit in a spot of afternoon tea at Monty's Chocolates. I love a visit to Paddington but what made it extra special this time was this...

Look what I found!
I love the person who trims their hedge into a heart. I'd like to see more!

Perfect, if slightly damp, Sunday

Poor old Brisbane and in fact much of Queensland has been drenched! It continued to be torrential all day and the wind has thrown it's two cents in as well. I have never heard it actually whistle and howl so loudly before! Every window and door in my house is rattling and the branches of the trees next to the house are rapping on the windows in a very agitated way.
We've got sideways rain and the water-catchments and nearby creeks are looking scarily full. The house is damp, my pile of laundry grows unrelentingly larger but from the sounds of things I could be a lot worse off, other people have lost power and are watching waters rise across their backyards. People in northern cities of Queensland are facing hurricanes. Hopefully it will be nothing like the floods of this time two years ago...

Little "Bow Tie Killer" is keeping watch for me

We barricaded ourselves in and admittedly it was good to have the excuse to relax and catch up on some reading {of the blog and books-from-the-library variety}. Of course I did have a pile of back to school books to cover awaiting me on the dinning table but I just gave those an occasional cold stare and otherwise ignored them for today. Tomorrow!

a couple of the new collection of zakka books from the library - I love them!

I did lots of other things to prep us all for the back to school performance that will begin on
Tuesday morning - or may not... I have heard a rumor school may not open because of the weather
{I don't believe it though}. Either way I have clean socks, ironed uniforms, frozen sandwiches
{thanks Michelle and Ben for the hot tip} and bags and lunchboxes ready to go!

It was so dark inside the house today. The lamp light cast some pretty shadows.

And in much happier news... "The Jungle Giants" came in at number 83 with their song "She's A Riot" in the Triple J Hottest 100 2012!! And no wonder, they have been working their butts off, playing heaps of gigs and festivals, making radio appearances,  touring with some amazing bands and just being so brilliant and fun to watch live. I love their music!

I was super happy and have never been so tensely awaiting the countdown. My friend Cesira who is their amazing and beautiful guitarist was so excited. They have produced two Eps and are now recording their first album which I can't wait for. Here are some links to two of their latest filmclips if you'd like to hear and see more. 

"She's A Riot" and one of my absolute faves "You've Got Something"

coming to you from dampened circumstances but not spirits, Ains xx

op shop findings

A lovely little collection of shops along Ipswich Road at Annerley is just a short skip away from our new home. The boys and I went for a Saturday morning excursion. We had brunch at Groove Cafe which is going to be a new favourite and then checked out the 2nd hand book shop and a wonderful shop full of handmade goodies. We pressed our faces against the glass of the huge aladin's cave of an antique shop and I made plans to return later without the youngest of the boys... and then the op shops, this little strip at Annerley is famous for them. It was fun. I found this lovely vase!        
These are all places I've ventured out to before but it kind of feels different now that they are in my own neighbourhood, do you know what I mean? We are enjoying exploring our new surrounds.

new digs

my new house

it's very unfamiliar, my things look quite un-at-home. We {my friends and family} have made lots of little trips this weekend, filling our cars with boxes and bits and pieces and taking them over.

My new house is only a suburb away from the old one. So we are now in Tarragindi, it's very pretty and leafy. There's a park at the end of our street and a bowls club just around the corner! 

I am discovering all of the little characteristics of our new home, such as this faux lux laminate {pictured below - you will notice it} in the handwashing room. Despite the bathroom being tiny there is a very generously sized room next to the WC with a basin in it and that's about it . I'm calling it a mudroom from here on in because I've always wanted one. I am sure it will be handy for dumping stuff in, school bags etc, so exotic!  

A removalist will come on Tuesday to bring all the big stuff and that will be our first night. 

My back hurts and I think my brain is hurting too! So much still ahead but I am looking forward to setting everything up and making it look pretty, that's the fun part, pity there's so much blah, blah blah to go through to get there.

moving house is really fascinating!

egads! I am moving house!
The home I rent is being sold and I chose the option of moving out straight away. It has been a
bit unsettled around here as you would know if you've ever had a house up for sale or had to move.
I've been doing a lot of tidying up and decluttering {it was a good thing I started back in January!}

So who knows where next! I am pretty nervous about finding a new place.
I really love living here because the house suits me and is in a perfect location. We made our home as nice as we could and we have built our lives around it and so to move means having to start all over again. I am hoping to make it as easy as possible. I was upset at first but now am thinking of all of the good possibilities that may present themselves.

My bro Danny passed on a little gem of advice which a lady told him, I believe it is a quote from Tony Robbins ~ "replace the word frustrating with fascinating".
For example, "that person is really fascinating" or "I am finding looking for a new house really fascinating". I think it's a good one.
Cleaning my office/ Mac Lab/ Social Media Control Centre in preparation for the open home was really fascinating, actually it really was. It's been messy for two years since I moved in, mostly too much stuff in boxes. I found so many cool things I had forgotten about when I was sorting it all out and threw away a lot of crap too. Now it is wonderful! Everything's organised, no more boxes, I'm enjoying it! If only for a couple of weeks before I have to pack it all in boxes again!

a valid excuse! from here

perfect sunday

oooh look ~ exercise does pay off!

This is what I found on my early Sunday morning walk!

I was just saying to my pt/brother in-law Dan, as we walked past piles of council clean up rubbish, that I really was NOT going to be picking up and more fantastic junk finds as my house is at capacity but just as those ill fated words fell from my mouth my eyes spotted this orchy crate and good intentions were swiftly kicked to the kerbside. I had to walk another approx 5kms up and down hills with that, although Dan did offer to carry it for me. It was a great workout!

Can You Keep A Secret

Shhhh Can You Keep A Secret?

I can't... and I shouldn't.
My friend and I visited Can You Keep A Secret on the weekend and I just have to tell you
how lovely it is!

It's more than a shop that sells vintage, it's a whole 1920's Queenslander style house in
Greenslopes, Brisbane where each room is wonderfully dedicated to it's own theme of vintage.
I liked the "gentlemen's room" and the "kitchen room".
My friend had fun trying on dresses in the "ladies room".

the gentlemen's room

front entrance

There is parking right out front on Logan Road and what I love about it is that as you step through the front gate from the footpath, and walk across the bridge to the house, it feels like your are stepping back into the past. So many cool things from my childhood! It's just like closing my eyes and imagining I am back at my own Nan's home in Greenslopes when I was a little girl in the 70's... except my eyes are open and it's all real - with the same authentic feel.

I really enjoyed having an unhurried look at everything whilst catching up with my friend...
Our conversation went something like... "oh my god, check this out" "oooh that looks good" "blah blah blah, he's really nasty" "LOVE those shoes" "you're looking really skinny" "my Nan had a set of these plates!" "should we get coffee?" "that is JUST gorgeous" "what are you doing tonight?" "oh my gosh, I had this exact same thing when I was little" "that's hideous, but quite cool" " I love polka dots" "damn kids" "I really need to have that" "what size shoe are you?" "that looks great on you!" "what the hell is this for?" "you HAVE to buy it" "yellow is your colour" "I love it, it's a SWAN!"

There is a really good mix of clothes, accessories, furniture, household and decorative items.
You should really go visit! It's a lot of fun.
Here is their facebook page for more info {looks like they have some cool events happening}
or their website.

two for tuesday

1 quote + 1 picture = two for tuesday

perfect sunday

It started at 6 am with a 6km walk up hill and down dale with my brother in law, a coffee on the way home then heaps of cooking and sparkly christmas playdough making. 

Then a christmas meet up with three of my friends I've known since we were 5, and their families. 

It was wonderful catching up again, seeing how much bigger everyone's children have got. 

I discovered we are all wonderful cooks and that layered nacho dip, dark chocolate & gingerbread muffins and champagne go quite well indeed together {absolved by walk earlier}.

Then a lovely dinner at my sister's house, all the tastier because it was cooked and 

cleaned up by someone else - for me. 

Now I'm trying not to fall asleep at my computer whilst listening to my son's collection of sleep inducing opera. It blares out of my itunes through to his bedroom, only a door away. My office is a little "sleep-out" accessed via his bedroom.  If I was on "It's A Knockout" and one of the challenges was to tiptoe across a darkened room, standing on as many pieces of lego as possible - loosing points every time you touched the floor, or spilled your cup of tea, {plus you are not allowed to scream} - I would win. 

His favourite "piece"at the moment is puccini's O mio babbino caro. Sometimes our collection of classical music works and sends him off to a soothing, happy, sleepy place however sometimes it does not and I feel that something stronger is required - what - I don't know.

On my travels today I was charmed by this house. I would like to go inside. 

... a perfect sunday.

Jacarandas!

I think they may be gone soon, the storms will blow the blossoms away. 

As I took these photos I could see them gently falling. There was also a beautiful soft scent and a lot of bees, possibly humming but I can't remember. 

jacarandas

It's that time of the year.
People say you can't see the seasons living in a sub-tropical climate but really you can.

A Day Out In Paddington

Was probably, what felt like the hottest day so far this year and last year too.

My sister and I had our first Work Free & Child Free Day, {and by "Day" I mean approx 5 and a half hours} in a LONG  TIME  so we thought..... coffee..... and why not make it in Paddington!

First stop was coffee, we chose a cool looking little place. 

Upon ordering we went to pay with our cards and the lady said ~ sorry it's our very first ever day and we aren't fully set up yet, you can bring along the cash later if you like. 

I was suitably shocked at this free thinking!  We had our very well made coffee and dropped off the cash later on during the morning. She gambled with trust and won our respect!
URBAN GRIND  review on fourthousand

*Picture below is NOT the coffee shop ~ just a house I liked.

Monty's Chocolate ~ we stopped in for another coffee and a chocolate as we were getting a little 

weary from all the looking at shops AND power walking combined with hill climbing up and down Latrobe Tce. As we couldn't decide which chocolate to taste with our coffee no.2 for the day we sensibly chose the chocolate tasting plate. It came with a lovely thick hot chocolate and we thought a very generous selection of chocolates including chocolate coated nuts, chocolate coated salted caramels and chocolate coated cocoa beans and nibs dusted in chocolate ~ 

I can't even begin to explain it correctly so I suggest you go there yourself! 

We had to stop at about the halfway mark and got the remainder wrapped up to take home.

                            

Had to sit down for a bit during post chocolate mini coma ~ comfy, 

not exactly as it is made of mosaic tiles! But it did have a lovely view of the city!

We redeemed ourselves at lunch with rice paper rolls and a cold bottle of water

Op Shopping!

A colour for every day plus a beige for weddings and a black for funerals ~ everything you need!

Oh dear! ~ Not For Sale!

Australia Day

A small selection of Australiana that I love...

haunting  

 still in love with love my way ~ makes me want to live and err drink alcohol because everyone always has a glass in their hand.

you must read this to your children/yourself ~ I have trouble reading this aloud, 

especially towards the end, "Mummy why are you crying?"

 at least one bbq today, probably two. No one will look as cool as the guy in the apron.

 Fourex, Milton, Brisbane, Queensland ~ is iconic but I don't drink it

pascall fruit bon bons tin, manufactured in Tasmania, introduced to me when I was little by my Nan

 ~ so yummy

previous bbq picture and this one, a page from the book you can just see above 

~ Golden Circle Tropical Recipe Book.

Golden Circle is famous for it's tinned pineapple. I think every recipe in this book uses tinned pineapple therefore is fantastic! This picture above is Pineapple Ice-Box Cake

My backyard is has a large lawn, a hills hoist, an outdoor laundry, a swing set ~ half broken, a tin shed for the lawn mower, a chain wire fence, an outdoor table setting which badly needs oiling, and old besser brick bbq, a macadamia tree, and orange tree, a grape vine growing wildly up a bottle brush tree and a mango tree. You can see the mango tree in the back of this photograph.

I love mangoes I think they taste like sunshine! I have yet to sample the mangoes as we haven't yet had a season since I moved in. I will let you know if they are any good. It is a good tree for climbing though!

An excerpt from Mangoes by Australian Poet Richard Tipping,

"mangoes are tangible sensual intelligence

mangoes are debauched antisocialites

mangoes are a positive good in the world

mangoes like poetry"