Out In The Sunshine: Style Tips

Besides the fact that I have been struck with a truly deep affliction, that of deep, unrequited Rupert love, it's sunny in our little corner of the world.

So today, here at PMM HQ we've decided to come at you with some style tips (not for the faint fashion hearted):

- DO dress for an activity you might like to do (even if there's not any notion of when you're going to be doing it - for days, weeks, or months). It's preferable that one of your accessories comes from a sibling's cupboard and you wearing it causes them to have a meltdown (or your mama just has to buy another to save household from spontaneously combusting)

- Swimming caps ARE a good look year round, pool side or not

- DO wear your swimming cap pulled down so that it squashes your forehead a little. This serves not only to make you look a little cranky (or neanderthal - both are HAWT), but also can serve well to age you a little - with a nice big crease across your forehead, for when (and if) you ever decide to take off the swimming cap

- When possible, DO find the swimming goggles and wear them too. Then have a hissy fit at them. Then pop them on again and go out to a cafe and check out the world through sky coloured glasses

- When Vogue Italia calls to ask for your styling prowess, DO charge them a gazillion. Style this good does not come cheap

The Young Victoria

Warning: This post features gratuitous shots of Rupert Friend.

Today I was going to go absolutely batty if I didn't score some 'me minutes'. I chose to spend these hard earned 'me minutes' by going to the movies. By my standards, this is one of my favourite solo time pursuits. I love watching movies at the cinema by myself. I don't get to do it often these days, so it's totally luxurious.

If you have been reading PMM for a while, you might know that I love love love to love love love a beautiful period piece. There's eye candy a-plenty with Rupert Friend cast as Albert, and the beautiful Emily Blunt as Victoria. The costuming delectable, and the setting - when do I move in?

With Martin Scorsese and Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York) as part of the production team, it's such a visual feast. I was devastated when the credits began - I just wanted more (second serve of Rupert, yes please). Watch out for Princess Beatrice taking a turn as an extra too.

You can read a BBC interview with Emily Blunt here.

A Petal or Two For You, Petal

Five of the best from our garden. Matt's grandfather was a mad keen camellia enthusiast. Winter time is as though the garden is alight with pinks, whites and fuschias of petals furiously unfurling in colour. It's tough to choose a favourite. So I choose them all.

This post is for Tania, who I seem to gross out all the time. Big camellia lovin' to you lady!

Confucious Say

'When sharing drink bottles with small children, close eyes tight so you don't see special additives. The floaty bits.'

PS - If you have a SIGG drink bottle, you might want to read this. And you can see here the difference between the old and the new.

image via

Grubby Bubby:: Momspit Giveaway

Do you remember when you were small and your Mum would unwittingly whip out a hankie and daub a little of her saliva onto it and wipe your face? Mums of the world, what the heck were you thinking?! Spit on my face - mmm delicious. And only half the calories.

Mummies, you no longer have to deprive your mouth of your own spit with the invention of Momspit. It's not a sanitiser, it's a no-rinse cleanser to spruce up your smalls when you're out and about. You can use it to clean grubby bubbies while Momspit leaves the skin feeling clean, fresh and smelling divine (check out the scents: Fig & Green Tea, Lemon & White Tea and Unscented). It's the perfect size for nappy bags or the glove box, for mummies on the go.

Good things about Momspit:

- Moisturises like a lotion and absorbs quickly - can make even the toughest milk moustache vamoose

- Alcohol free and biodegradable

- Gentle enough to be used on the face

- Cleans just like soap and water - minus the tap!

- Recyclable and refillable packaging

- No child labour, not tested on animals

- Does not include human saliva (because that is just gross, innit?)

If you'd like to win one of three bottles of Momspit all you have to do is send me a picture of your bubby all grubby (please only one photo and low-res or my computer might have a cardiac). You can include a few words too about how grubby your wee one gets, or maybe you can reminisce about your own mum and her use of spit on your face. Or not.

The Smallest Stitches

Following on from the Stitches & Craft show, I've been busting myself to get cracking on the printed fabric I bought from Lisa Tilse. It's going to be part of a quilt for one of my friend's new babes.

My curse per stitch ratio is particularly high at the moment, quite impressive really. I am quite talented when it comes to getting my floss in a tangle. I would even say I am excelling at tangling it. Maybe I should try embroidering cursive fonts. Get it? Get it?!

Underneath is a vintage tablecloth I found once at a sale. It had already been printed up with the embroidery pattern, but it had never realised it's potential (ie it's never been embroidered), so I've been working on that too.

I Haven't Been Doing Anything

Alarm bells should ring for parents when they hear this. Ding! Ding! Ding! Bright lights flashing. I didn't need the verbal giveaway, I just looked up and saw The Doctor covered in a fine chocolate-y looking dust this afternoon. Smeared around his face. All over his t-shirt. The photos don't quite do him justice.

Yes. He hasn't been doing anything. Except getting into the Cadbury Drinking Chocolate.

Random Acts of Kindness

Tiny and I went to make an appointment today for her vaccinations (what a treat!) and on our way out an elderly woman made comment that 'you're lucky to be at that end of life'.

I am. We are.

It's made me really think about the importance of things and it was a particularly apt comment after such an uneventful weekend. That small comment that she may have thought was a flyaway sentence has stuck with me, in a good way. I am grateful.

That is random act of kindness number one.

Random act of kindness number two - I received a surprise parcel in the mail. I love mail. I love surprises. I love books. And I love vintage. This combines many of my favourite things. This book is ace to the power of ace. I never knew it existed. Now it's my bed time reading. Thank you kind friends! (One thing, one of the smalls has taken off with the card, and now I can't for the life of me find it. Once I do, I will email you - eep!). So thoughtful, and I am really, super touched - you're the bomb.

Now it's my turn to bestow a random act of kindness on someone. Look out world!

Old School Skating

We went on a leisurely Sunday afternoon walk. We like to do that. I threw a chicken in the oven (that I had stuffed after gagging, I hate touching raw chicken, and stuffing them for that matter - enter the squeams!) and then we walked. The Doctor had a minor meltdown as he couldn't find his helmet, and in our house no helmet equals no racers. So he had to walk.

This may have been fortuitous because just down the road was a pile of rubbish. And you know what that means in our language. Good times. The Doctor and I rummaged 'til our hearts were content. Matt, of course, stood back. Because he's too cool to be seen going through other people's junk. Me? No way Jose. I'm in there. I'll show you tomorrow what I found - not today because today I am too lazy to take a photo. But the Doctor triumphed over his helmet downfall. He scored this old school skateboard (here he is rad dawging), check out the handle that helps him steer the deck, and gain a little confidence, le old school way.

The thing I particularly loved about our work, besides the rubbish of course, was a couple of ginger cats coming out to say hi to the smalls. We've met one of these cats on a previous walk before. But yesterday, not only did ol' Ginger run out, his mate did too. The smalls were in cattie heaven.

My Husband Is An Artist

I haven't posted about it previously, but I'm telling you now, pop a diary note in and save the date.

My husband is an artist and he's having a show. He's of the old school, beautiful charcoal and graphite nudes. He can mix it with the best of them.

Perhaps you like art? Perhaps you'd like to come? Perhaps, perhaps, you might be looking for something to adorn your walls?

Then put this date in your dear diary.

Friday October 2 (show continues until October 7)

6:30-9:00pm

China Heights Gallery

Go Forth And Craft

I had another great afternoon at Stitches and Craft. This time with both the Doctor and Tiny in tow, so I didn't take any pictures, wrangling two smalls was enough for this lady. I also met my sister and niece and we went forth and conquered. An ice-cream at the end was the clincher for the smalls (though Tiny couldn't give a toss about icy treats, she just wants to walk everywhere).

We spent quite a bit of time in the Incubator section. Full to the brim with talent on the verge, it's a hive of activity and a veritable Aladdin's Cave with absolutely something to suit everyone. I could have spent longer there but the smalls had me on a strict clock.

But for what it's worth, I think it's important to support shows such as Living Creatively's Stitches and Craft. Where else do you get to find such a wealth of stores in one space, get some tips, and also support Australia's burgeoning crafty crew?

I've worked in the fashion industry, and I can see parallels even if it was years ago, it's still just as current. I worked with young designers to help launch them onto the international market - a couple of names that you'd recognise in high-end magazines. I did it because I believed in them. Because I wanted them to succeed.

But because the young designers were just starting out, it was the big guys who allowed them to share some of the limelight. It's an important cycle, and one that, without patrons, without vision, would fizzle and flop. It was always exciting to see the young designers mix it up with the doyennes of fashion. How else would the greats of the fashion world such as Yves Saint Laurent, Phoebe Philo and Donna Karan ever get a crack into the industry?

And if you think fashion isn't an important industry, then just think about the world-wide industry it creates (from designers, to seamstresses, to cleaners, to magazines, to textile designers, the publicists - the list can go on and on) - and includes people from all walks of life. Then apply that to crafting, and think about all the local (and by local I mean Australian traders) who are no doubt aching because sourcing from overseas has suddenly become de rigueur and so much more accessible. They're suffering. They're closing down. And in my eyes if we don't support local, we won't be able to stay local and that's a pretty sad place to be.

So while some of the stalls weren't up my alley, they might be exactly what someone else is looking for. If everyone was the same, well, there wouldn't be any need for a Stitches and Craft, would there?

After all, life would be pretty naff to the max without arty, crafty stuff. Support your fellow crafters!

Image via

Bright Lights: Fresh Talent

Today I did something wild. Spontaneous. Crazy. I threw caution to the wind and drove Tiny and myself to the Stitches and Craft show to meet one of my all-time favourite bloggers. I've not met very many real-life bloggers as I usually feel a little shy. But I couldn't wait to meet Nan.

Of course she did not disappoint. She's got a beautiful, abundant stall there and I urge you to shake your tail feather and get out there to show support for the exhibitors at Stitches and Craft. There is absolutely something to suit everyone. And loads of free activities to keep you busy.

I had a wonderful afternoon meeting awesome crafty, cool, inspiring bloggers/crafters. Kind of like Young Blood, but I didn't get turned away at the door. Oh and I got to see my sister too (she was working here).

In fact, I loved it so much, I'm going for another dip into the Stitches and Craft show tomorrow. Shall I see you there?

PS - The above are just a sweet sample of Nan's beautiful craftiness. She's a genius I tell you.

When Punks Turn Into...Punks

via

The Doctor and I are totally butting heads with one another. He wants to stay at home, I want to go out.

I want him to have a sleep. He doesn't. Then he goes to sleep for two hours and is in a much more harmonious mood. Thangyouverymudge.

He wants to dessert. Doesn't want dinner.

I want to walk. He wants to drive (50 metres down the road, Al Gore where are you when I need you?).

He wants to watch TV. I don't want him to watch TV.

Oh it's a tangled web we weave.

He's 4 going on 14. Why oh why are we butting heads?

Att: Boozehounds Re: Tipples

Dear Boozehounds,

It has come to my attention that while I've been enjoying a quiet tipple or two, I've neglected to give you le scoop de la scoop.

Yesterday afternoon, while cruising the aisles of our local bottle-o, I discovered this beauty. Those labels, beguiling. Sublime vintage flower seed packets. I couldn't go past them. This label wooed me. You know dear reader, oh how I love a good vintage something or another - and this, this is divine to the power of divine.

And then I noticed it's name. The Four O'Clock Chardonnay. Oh how it mocks me!

For realz, check out this new organic wine. Ten points for beauty! And it's not a bad drop either (trust me, I have the almost empty bottle to prove it).

It's Me: Day 10 (The Outsider)

I know, I know, it's not strictly day ten, but I decided to go AWOL. How many pictures of myself can I possibly plaster on my own blog? It felt like way too many. And yet today, I must finish this small project because otherwise it's hanging over my head.

Today my outfit* is dedicated to all the mothers at the Doctor's pre-school. The ones who avert eyes and never say hi.

This is me saying hi to you. How do you like them apples?

* Please note - no stripes or cardies have been harmed in my outfit today. Are you feeling proud? I am.

Out On The Water

The smalls and I skidaddled out of the house today. Matt's studying so we hit the road and the seas and boarded a ferry. What a beautiful day to be out on the water. The Doctor adored it, and particularly loved the names of each of the ferries. Tiny just loved the wind blowing in her hair - it always makes her laugh.

After the morning out (which wound up being almost the whole day) we tumbled in our front door totally pooped.

Baying for Blood

Last night my sister and I went into the city. We were buoyed by excitement of what's to come - the Young Blood Designers Market. And then we turned up and a bazillion people were standing outside the Powerhouse Museum and we made two more.

The security guard was turning people away because they had too many people inside - and they told all of us standing there that there was not a chance we were going to get in unless we'd pre-paid for our tickets. Ho-hum.

So my sister and I stood there for what kind of seemed like a long time. We ummed and ahhed. We could chance it and beg to get in, or make the most of having our husband's babysit, so we hit the high road and went off to Ariel. There's no mistaking it, we know how to party.

The long and the short of it, as soon as we got home we pre-purchased our tickets for today and rolled up today and rolled straight in. It was worth it, so many great young designers in one small space. But take my advice, if you want to go next time, buy your ticket in advance.

Il Postino

Have you ever seen the film Il Postino? I have. It was about fifteen years ago and for the life of me, I can't remember what it was about. I think it was good, but I can't vouch for it.

What I do know is that postmen are good. Unless they are this one.

But today's postie is exceptional in his deliveries.

My own copy of Homemade is already being thumbed through like mad. So many great contributors, so many great recipes.

Lookie lookie. If you haven't already snaffled a copy, do so pronto because all money raised from the sales of 'Homemade' goes to the Salvation Army. Well done to all those involved.

Because I Am Nuts For Squirrels

When Matt and I spent some time in London, I discovered squirrels. What some people call a rodent, I call a thoroughly charming, fluffy tailed little fellow. I used to feed them, which apparently, is illegal. No matter, those little fluffy cuties came bounding out from wherever they be hiding to be fed by PMM (although technically I wasn't a mama at this stage) and I made it worth their while. Honey nut bar anyone?

Anyhow, it is for this reason that the above photograph delights me. Totally. In fact, I'd even go so far as to say, the photo above thrills me beyond reason and back again.

Something I Found In A Bin

It's been almost a year since my epic affair with someone else's bin, and so it seems only fit that I show you something else I found in a bin. A long time ago, but I've never mentioned it, until today that is folks.

Would you believe someone had tossed this little beauty out?

Along with this, I found a bag of fabric scraps, which was intermingled with a whole bunch of panty-hose (fancy crafty bank robbery anyone?) - which I declined to hold onto for fairly obvious reasons, a letter dated August 1971, and an awesome child's armchair which has gone to my brother-in-law in the hope that he might one day find some time to reupholster it for me, because damn fool, it's positively darling.

From the Adventures of Thrifty the Wonder Mama

I found some other cuties the other day on my thrifting adventures. It's funny. Well not laugh out loud funny, maybe not even funny, perhaps just peculiar. I do the rounds of the shop, then go for a second round. Usually on the first round I come up empty handed. The second round is when I yield the goodies. I get bamboozled on the first round, second round I'm calm, I know the field I am playing and I can relax and really look.

I found these beauties for just 2 clams.

I was thinking of making them into something (because let's face it, when it comes to making things I am *ahem* the bomb with my exemplary track record), given whoever made them put so much work into them, I wanted to continue their journey, but then my sister gave me the super idea to frame them. Enjoy them as they are. They're pretty spectacular no matter which way you look at them.

Spooning

I haven't posted for a while about thrifting. I'm here to make it up to you. I promise you something and then I don't deliver. I'll punish myself later, but for now, here's something I found on the weekend that I couldn't resist. I didn't even try, I just wanted, had to have and hey - they were cheap.

I bought them for my smalls. And for anything really. Tea. Coffee. Me. Today I am just one big walking cheeseburger. But these spoons - they be the shiz.

What's your hidden talent? Can you play the spoons?

It's Me: Day 9

I'm sitting outside and the day is growing ever cooler dear reader. But I'm supervising the smalls and the ants are starting to crawl across my screen. Romantic notions aside, it's cold, the sun's leaving us for the day, Tiny is pantless and the Doctor won't stop talking.

And today instead of one picture, you get a bonus one. They say a picture's worth a thousand words, so consider this a novella.

It's Me: Day 8

We had some friends over this morning, so I dressed up a little (and I mean a teeny tiny bit). Plus I am sick of being a little cold. No cardis to be seen here.

I made pear butter cake because I can. If I eat all the cake I won't fit onto your computer screen anymore. But that's beside the point. It is delicious. It is capricious.

Today I had to bribe the Doctor to take my photo. Nothing like a little corruption in families, is there?

What's on the haps in your 'hood?

It's Me: Day 7

Already I can conclude from this little project that I like a cardigan. Yes, yes, it's true. In each photo I am wearing a cardigan. Good? Bad? Ugly? Granny? I don't shy away from my inner-Nanna. In fact, I embrace it, as illustrated by this trait of mine. And one day I will be PottyMouthNanna, hopefully, so might as well get some main stays in my wardrobe early.

We spent another ridiculously glorious day with my sister and niece in the sunshine at the beach. We had the beach pretty well to ourselves - hello world, I'd like to build a little weatherboard shack on it and call it a day. Fair? Anyone got a problem see my lawyers. I don't have lawyers, but if I did, you could see them. Perhaps even wave.

See the sky writer? Writing something about Gorillas. Awfully wonky.

As an aside, I mentioned that I was selling stuff on eBay. I have and I have some PayPal money burning a hole in my virtual pocket. Well Pippy blogged about this yesterday, and I read it, I dug the whole idea and I did it. Perhaps if you have some money that you could spare you could help too? You can click through via Pip or see over yonder, I added a button. Thanks to Pip for the heads up.

It's Me: Day 6

It's such a blissful day today. The sun is shining. The birds are singing. The smalls are happy. The mama's happy. Parenting when the sun is shining is so much easier than on grey days when you're locked in the house and then cabin fever sets in. I tend to go a little barmy. Perhaps even more than a little. Perhaps I go tres barmy when I have cabin fever.

Today I feel like a snake that's shedding it's skin. No need for too many layers. I am a big fat snake in the sunshine. Stitching. And while I know snakes can't stitch for lack of hands, I am sure it's not through lack of trying.

So today we're clocking up time in the sun. A 2002 UK study revealed that eight-year-olds could easily identify Pokemon characters far more easily than they could name "otter, beetle, and oak tree." Scary huh? Get into the sun people! Enjoy nature peeps! Pokemon are for... I don't know. We're not into Pokemon. Phew.

Day 6. Four days to go. I need to pull out the big stops from here on in.

PS - The Doctor took a hilarious series of shots this afternoon of me - right after he photographed the lavender. Apparently it needed a photo too. My photos - totally unflattering, funny nonetheless. Totally untouched, just for the record.

It's Me: Day 5

I didn't 'it's me' myself over the weekend or yesterday because Matt was home, and where would the fun be in that, he can already see me, so it was redundant peeps.

Today I am probably going to make Victoria Mason's tummy churn because I am wearing her delicious sharpening necklace (that my sister gave me for my birthday) with track pants. Illegal. Highly illegal. A grade A felony. Illegal in seven countries. My only redemption? I am wearing a grandpa style cardi.

It's a sad world we live in, when five days in, I'm already wearing fleecy track pants. Forgive me.

Half-Written Posts

I have about four half-written posts from the weekend that I just haven't completed due to lack of photos or lack of mojo.

I've been madly listing random 'stuff' on eBay such as vintage doilies, clothes, books, and whatever else I don't want hanging about the house anymore. Nothing is safe anymore. Enough is enough people, and I can no longer live surrounded by my clutter. It's almost to the point we have to swim through vintage stuff just to move from one room to another, and given Tiny can't swim yet, well eBay it is.

Here's something I've been working on. A wee bit of stitching. We've also watched this over the weekend. Charlotte Gainsbourg, oh how I adore thee.

Le Weekend

It's le weekend. Oh weekends, how I adore thee. Let me count the ways:

• Cuddling on the couch with the smalls for extended love-ins
• Massage with Matt. I didn't fall asleep, but damn it, I tried - and the Doctor asking what time was my 'tummy rub'
• The Doctor telling me that he'd like to come next time I have a massage. I told him, maybe when you're a big boy I'll take you as a treat. He replied, 'Maybe when I'm 60?' Maybe a little earlier than that darling boy
• Sunshine
• Catching up with sisters
• No clocks, no timelines
• Free to read the papers (albeit in small grabs, just read this beautiful yet sad story of love)
• Tidying up here and there
• Clothes drying on the washing
• Calling my Mum and Dad
• Baking. Yes, there will be baking - jam drops to be precise
• Hanging with the fam at the park

Loving the weekend is absolutely compulsory. What's your great weekend love?