Could You? Would You? Want To?

Jocelynne Wildenstein - with a chin that would make any superhero jealous.

I am always fascinated by cosmetic surgery. I've been reading on SMH this morning about celebrities who succumb to the surgery. I was particularly fascinated by the before and after shots. I have some morbid fascination with those shots - particularly as I think a lot (most) of the before shots are better than the afters.

So, could you? Would you? Want to?

What are your thoughts on cosmetic surgery?

I've documented mine before and I'm still the same. I think women look fabulous with their lines. Who epitomises true beauty to you?

Want to know who I think looks particularly scary these days? I hate to say it (since I was such a huge Nic fan), but Nicole Kidman is starting to look like Frankenstein's wife frozen in time.

Christmas Stylie: Part Two

Here's my brother-in-law, the husband of the photo-snapping, camera-wielding, crown-gifting sister. Here he is sporting a non-Christmas present. One of my collection of vintage granny hats. It's also a favourite of Tiny's. They both have appalling taste, clearly.

Christmas Stylie

Another photo gratuitously supplied by my sister. This time I'm wearing the Doctor's crown (as created by the genius that is Nan at Rummage) as gifted by my sister. The photo-snapping one. This is Christmas stylie. Please note: I don't practise this pose in the mirror. It just comes naturally. Ahem.

So, Tell Me, How Was Christmas?

I have a confession to make. A filthy confession. We divvied up all the Christmas tasks, and mine for the 25th was to make nibblies. Unfortunately I forgot what I was supposed to be doing, and I can't even remember why I didn't get this task done, but all I put out were some chips, cheese, and I totally burnt the bruschetta (so much so Matt could probably use it for drawing), and the goats curd and fetta stuffed bell peppers are still sitting in my shelf. Let's not even talk about the caramelised onions (ok let's talk about them, I forgot, and the onions are still sitting in a dark cupboard in tact). I know why, I don't like making savoury things, I much prefer sweeties. I got scared and thus, forgot. YIKES!

AND I didn't even take one photo. Earth to PMM: come IN! Thanks to my sister for providing pictures of Christmas Day. Clearly my brain was switched off.

Besides that, we had a delightful, crazy Christmas day.

My family is probably still waiting for the nibblies. Take two anyone?

You Know You've Hit The Big Time

image of Kermit via Teddy Bears Wednesday

...when Elisabeth from Fine Little Day says she loves something you make. Unfortunately I only make messes. But Jess from Teddy Bears Wednesday makes bears. Ridiculously cool, quirky bears. I am lucky enough to co-habit with one of Jess' divine creations. Snaffle one for yourself, this gal is going places.

PS - Happy belated Christmas, I got sucked into the vortex and as a result feel as though I've eaten a whole ham by myself. Oink.

LastMinute.Com Would Be So Proud

Last week I had a hit of genius. Matt and I have had Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros on high, high, ridiculously high rotation ever since I first discovered this truly addictive tune way back here. I listen to it to go walking. Over and over. I play it when washing up. Over and over. Matt and I sing it in the car. We are totally (well I am) out of tune, but no matter. Even the Doctor digs it.

I am a dedicated follower of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. There now. I've said it. No rehab for me.

I'm even more totes excited because one of my friends in LA has seen them play a few times over Summer and said they're just as golden in real life. This is good news.

So hence I went, stitching madly on my large piece of remnant linen. I've loved watching Kirsty's red work. So I tried my hand at it. I am getting more and more confident with stitching. Nothing can hold me back peeps! I love the look of red on linen.

However, in the well-loved style of mondegreens, I've mistakenly put what I thought were the lyrics, instead of what are really the lyrics. Let's call that poetic licence. Ahem.

And just as I had started working on making it into - you guessed it - a cush - Matt piped up and said to me, "Oh you know what I would really love for Christmas? A cushion for my chair." I smirked. As only PottyMouthMama knows what's in front of the sewing machine being madly stitched up lastminute.com style.

Dear Blogger, I am seriously about to head butt you. You know why, I don't need to explain, just look at my image. AGAIN!

I'm Over Here!

Want more Christmas thoughts? I'm guest blogging over here at Shelley's inspiring blog Femme de Montmartre. If only everything Shelley wrote about me were true.

Just while I'm here, anyone got any experience with feral bunnies (meaning unruly bunnies, not the real feral ones)? Ours is going through puberty and enjoying sexy times with anything he can get his paws on - last night a green balloon. And he's going wild biting us. Not happy Jan. All advice gladly taken.

Now get over to see Shelley and give her a high five and tell her PMM sent you. Go on git!

Pupcakes?

Like I said earlier in the week, I went to town with pupcakes for Tiny. I'm not sure if I've mentioned before of Tiny's love for all things puppy and catty. She goes mad for 'puuuuuuppies!' whenever we pass them in the street. Same can be said for catties.

As dutiful mother, I decided since she didn't want to have her pav and eat it too, I would make pupcakes.

I was inspired by one of my favourite blogs - Angie and Kristin have oodles of fantastic ideas. If only I had sat up front and paid more attention because my pupcakes could have looked a little more like theirs, and a little less like...mine. An ode to a moustache. I even heard my MIL say, 'Oh that looks like a tarantula', ahem.

Thankfully it was just our exclusive party of four who had to eat them. We ate our way around the droopy cowboy moustache (Ode to Texas), the straight mo' (Ode to a Banker), and the monobrow - while clearly not a moustache, it's kind of like a brow 'stache (Ode to a Mono).

Thanks be to blogger for rotating my image. Again. Rotate your head dear reader. x

Christmas Kiddie Craft:: Big Fat Fail

I lined up an orange and some cloves for the Doctor thinking that this would be an ace old school Christmas crafty activity to do with him. A heavily scented orange pomander, those scents are what Christmas is made of, well for me at least. It was to be a meditation of sorts.

Big fat fail for me because the cloves hurt his little fingers and proved very difficult for him to push into the thick skin of l'orange.

I wound up doing most of it then the Doctor decided to art direct me, and well my cloves were breaking and what happened to my patience, so this is our new age orange pomander. He smells nice. He has a big fat combover. What more could you want for Christmas?

And yet again, dear Blogger has revolutionised my images by rotating them. Thank you no-good Blogger. HMPH!

If I Had A Private Jet...

I'd be here.

Are You A Pav-Lover?

My goodness, gather 'round and listen up. I have something shocking to share. Breaking news even.

My children are *gasp* not pavlova lovers!

I'll give you a small moment to get back up off the floor from the shock.

I made Tiny a birthday pavlova yesterday. Too hot for cake, pavlova seemed like the ticket, candles at the ready, three-two-one: Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!

While Tiny did love the fanfare, the pomp and circumstance, she did not dig on the pav. And neither did the Doctor. It was only my second ever pavlova (thanks to Stephanie Alexander), and it was a good 'un.

Anyone who knows me knows I love cake. And as Jill Dupleix says, 'Never trust someone who doesn't like cake,' or something to that effect anyway. Because I am not happy until Tiny has eaten cake, this weekend I will make birthday cake until I crack her birthday code.

Ends

Yesterday was the Doctor's end of year Christmas concert/sing-a-long at pre-school. I signed up to bake cupcakes, foolishly so, why did I commit to making so many cupcakes so early in the morning. I know better next year (just jokes, I love making and baking cupcakes, a little patty pan of joy in each one).

In the lead up to the concert the Doctor had very animatedly demonstrated his moves. The lyrics. It was big stylie exciting in our house. I was excited, and also feeling a bit sad. I still can't quite pinpoint it, but I felt that stinging of tears whenever I thought of it.

Is it because my big boy was finishing his first year of pre-school?

I don't know, but yesterday was so exciting for him. Three of his grandparents came to watch him, along with Matt, Tiny and I. There was standing room only. It was a sell out.

On another front, my Mum was a little shocked to see Tiny wearing an outfit she had made for her. It's pictured above. My Mum said 'But it's pyjamas!' Trust me Mum, too pretty for PJs, all that work is too pretty to be hidden in the darkness. Plus, Tiny digs the whole ensemble, she doesn't want to take it off!

A Very Tiny Birthday

It's Tiny's birthday today. She's the grand old age of two. She's thrown a few pearlers today just to reinforce that we are indeed in the throes of the terrible twos. And it is just the beginning. Le sigh.

Despite these tanties, we headed off to the zoo. Matt, the Doctor, Tiny and I. Man oh man, it was hawt.

We had a great day off.

The muggies* were the hit of the day with the tiniest small. She loved watching them playing up close and personal.

The biggest small, he likes the kangaroos and after we'd seen them insisted we hadn't seen them until I replayed blow by blow the kangaroos. Then he was satisfied that we did not have to trek all the way back and watch the kangaroos sleeping.

We all loved the bird show. It's a given. If you visit Taronga Zoo, do check out the bird show. And the muggies*.

* muggies = monkeys

Ramblings of the Christmas Kind

I am so way behind in my Christmas jobs, I haven't even sent any cards. I usually am so well organised and have them sent out at the beginning of December. Not this year! Today I will madly scratch out some messages and madly chase the postman to deliver them, hopefully before the 25th.

Speaking of mail, last week I received a postcard congratulating Matt and I on the birth of our baby boy. The Doctor was born 4 years and seven months ago. It's taken Indonesia post that long to deliver our mail. Wow. It must have circumnavigated the world a few times in those years? The tales that wee postcard could tell!

It's also Tiny's birthday this week, as well as the wrap up of pre-school, and I've also scheduled a wee meltdown for the tail end of the week too. Just for kicks.

I am also getting super excited about Christmas! We saw my Mum and Dad this weekend for a little pre-Christmas festivities, which was fun to the power of fun. We didn't want to leave.

We've had a French family staying with us for a few days. Now it feels like there's a great big hole since they've left this morning. The Doctor had a wonderful time playing with the boys, each morning busting to go in to see them (at 6am, non!), and staying up well past his seven o'clock and calling out 'Bon soir!' at bedtime.

I've been making Suffolk Puffs, or yo-yos. It's easy. It's cheaper than therapy. I likey.

Today is for making sense of where we are at. Where are we at? Can someone tell me? I'd really love to know. And while you're at it, can you tell me what to do next? Merci beau coup!

Ahem! Listen Up

I'd like this for Christmas. Who doesn't love Charley Harper? The only thing is, I only want the box, I don't actually want the contents (and heck, at that price I'm definitely not going to get it anyhoo). So if someone happens to receive this, and doesn't want the box, but only wants the contents, consider me a contender. Me likey.

Christmas:: In Slow Motion

It's real slow motion over here because I've been struck down by yet another dreaded lurgy. At least it's pre-Christmas, right? Because I for one do not want to be sick on Christmas day.

So things are slow-mo. Today we've constructed our gingerbread house. I've thrown away any concepts that I may have had in my mind and just let the Doctor go gangbusters. It's more fun for him, and less stress for me. Now I have to guard it from Tiny. She has been pulling candy canes off the tree and eating them like some crazed lolly goblin.

Decorating the gingerbread house was kind of like decorating the tree. Not that I have an over-stylised tree. We have a mish mash of decorations and each one tells some kooky little story of its own, and that's the way I like it. I love wooden decorations, I love glass too (but there's a time for those and right now for us, it's not now!). Back to the wooden decorations, the Doctor and I got busy back on the 30th November decorating, and he dropped almost each decoration, sending the delicate wooden frames hurtling in slow-mo no less, and smashing on the tiles. At least someone was having a night on the tiles, right? And then we finally got all the decs onto the tree. And then Tiny pulled the tree over. So now all the decorations are lying everywhere and no one can be bothered to put them back on. It's like the saddest Christmas tree in the world. Half dressed, half naked. Mostly dishevelled.

And that suits us. For now at least.

The Gentle Art Of Quiet Stitching

Lately I've been enjoying stitching. I'm still stitching my sister's belated birthday present, because each time I get to feeling almost finished, I decide to embellish it further. This could continue for a while, however the more stitches the pillowcase collects, the firmer the fabric becomes and she may well feel like she's sleeping on a piece of cardboard. So I will stop soon.

But stitching provides me with such a nice rhythmic, solo pursuit.

As a mother it's rare these days that I get to do anything solo. So stitching is usually left to bed time, when I pore over my colours, selecting them with care, and then stitching. Sometimes I colour match incorrectly and spend the next evening carefully unpicking, but it's all part of it. And the truth is, sometimes those imperfections are part of the beauty of stitching.

My grandmother is an incredible stitcher. Sadly, she's almost blind, however I know each of my sisters and I cherish anything that has been hand-stitched by our Marsy. I constantly seek inspiration from her embroidery and can spend many minutes looking with amazement at her incredibly tiny stitches. I have this towel that she must have given to me at least ten years ago, which I've never used because it's too special. I know she'd want me to use it, but look at the work, no way Jose!
Who's your inspiration?

Croup Doggy Dogg

Fresh from the throwdown showdown the Doctor was struck down with croup. Miserable fevers, the seal-bark cough. Again. Crank up the vapouriser. Batton down the hatches. After a few days convalescing at home, he's much improved. Just in time for Tiny to come down with some bug which has her biting my arm, headbutting the floor and so sick, sick, sick. Miserable fevers, the seal-bark cough, the lack of want to sleep, the crying, the clinginess, the pure misery. Poor little sausage. Both Matt and I seem to be wearing her around the house as the accessory du jour. Poor, poor little sauso-rillo.

But on the flipside, yesterday I was allowed out on day release for good behaviour. I skipped straight over to the Material Obsession Swap Day where I picked up a super cool necklace (will blog later), and then zoomed off in pursuit of some sweet action in the shape of The Finders Keepers markets.

Was I disappointed? (only with my wallet) Heck no! I got to meet the one and only, the star, here by popular demand, Victoria Mason and her partner Cass. Who I proceeded to rabbit on to (and they were probably thinking, stop talking ladY!). Oops sorry. Clearly I don't get out much. It was so fab to finally put a face to a name and meet them both. Yeehaw!

Victoria Mason morning tea set $175

What a beautiful market space Finders Keepers have in Carriageworks. Space to walk around, cafe, music, art exhibition. LOVE! I will definitely be heading back.

I also said toodles to Lisa at The Red Thread. She's a total market whirlwind, I think she'll need a stiff G&T by the time Christmas rolls around. She's also going to be at Allie's Attic and Mosman Village Art & Craft markets (my internet is so woefully slow I can't check the correct name, so google it to check out her beautiful wares).

Lisa Tilse Sushi bird tiles $150

I met some other virtual pals too such as Anna from Able & Game (snaffled some of her witty cards). Anyone I missed? Jeepers I hope not, but hello to you too.

Christmas tags from Able & Game $USD6.50

Five Things

I'm bored. I'm boring. I've got nothing to blog about. Therefore I'm making my own meme. Won't you play along?

Here's five things I could not live without (in no particular order):

1. Family - who could be without my nutty, crazy, chattery, creative, all-embracing family? Not me.

2. Tea - I dig on tea. I have lots of dialogues on tea. I've posted previously about Nonny (my grandmother) asking us to toss the used tea leaves on her beloved roses. My other grandmother Mars used to drink hers strong with a slice of lemon. I drink all sorts of tea. And I dig tea.

3. Sleep. Right this moment I could drop offffasw.esgtsooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Zzzz. Oh sorry about that. Must need a kip. Am I going to get one? Nope.

4. Dreams. I dream of moving house. I dream of doing something new. I dream of gardening more. I dream of my babes growing up (I don't need to dream that they're doing it themselves). I dream of more dates with Matt. I dream of dancing on tables. I like to dream. And I like to dream big. And in technicolour. With sparkles. And fairy lights. And glitter. And more sparkles.

5. Music - there's nothing like discovering a new band, a new song. I would go slightly bonkers (heck I already am) if I don't listen to some tunes during the day. Fuel for some impromptu crazy dancing, inducer sometimes of sleep, I like me some music.

What are five things that you love? Don't think too hard. Just get them down! Tell me if you're playing.

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I was given two tickets to see Human Nature & Smokey Robinson in the Hunter Valley on Saturday 12 December. I can't go, but I wondered if anyone would like these tickets? Email me if you're interested!

The Throwdown

It was one of those days yesterday. I had to wake Tiny up from her afternoon siesta. I surprised her with her wee tutu. She instantly curled up in a ball on the floor and cried 'No!' How do you like them apples? Surely she was acting it up. I mean, Matt and I already know that both the Doctor and Tiny, while we have no idea what school they will go to, have full scholarships to NIDA because their acting skills are so damn good, but surely this was just fluff.

NOPE! She cried and threw herself like a wobbly jellyfish until I hid the tutu out of sight.

Well then, fine. I'll wear it.

Thankfully once we'd picked up the Doctor, just-woken up Tiny had come 'round to the idea (she has a small tutu already which she adores), and popped the tutu on just in time to play with the snails the Doctor had brought home from pre-school.

Who knew snails could be so much fun? Highly recommended these upcoming school holidays. Get a snail and while away the hours. Good for a Christmas gift? Not so good for the garden though.

You're Tutu Kind

It's that time of the year folks when I turn a little batty and get the idea that I can make things. I know, it's funny isn't it? But I'm turning my hand to a tutu for my beloved baby girl. She loves dressing up. In anything. Including her brother's swimmers, my necklaces, swimming cap and goggles, a vintage fur stole, and skirts skirts skirts. And it's her second birthday in a couple of weeks.

The ever-delightful Cindy hooked me up with a link to a no-sew tutu that even I can make. These were my words, not Cindy's.

If you make this tutu, do me one favour and take a small piece of advice from me. Do not cut the lengths of tulle while on the phone to your sister. Don't do it.

And now that that's been said, here's my little tutu in progress. Hopefully will get it finished tonight. And will probably not be able to wait 'til Tiny's birthday so she can spin 'round and 'round until she gets dizzy.