This Is...

Cebu Mangoes

Originally uploaded by Farl

Can I say mangoes? I love mangoes. It's mango season here. Nothing like standing over the sink with mango juice running down your chin, your arms, and that sweetness. Ah the sweetness - that first taste of mango for the season. It's addictive. It hits you. That mango love. Ah for a mango, I'd do almost anything. Just don't mix it with anything savoury - eeek - no no no, mangoes served as they are, perfect for me.

I ate one a day in the latter stages of my pregnancy with the Doctor. You'd think he'd be a fool for mangoes too - but at the moment, he's more of a strawberry kind of guy. But Tiny. Well she's a sucker for mangoes. She loves grabbing at that slippery piece of sweetness. Shoving it in her mouth - uh oh - missed, try again. Oh man, she loves the mangoes, just like her mango-lovin' mama.

This week's theme was chosen by the very clever Beth at cloth and fodder. Thanks to Angela at three buttons for hosting this is.

This Is... My Favourite Quote

Strawberry Kisses chose this week's theme... And of course our lovely hostess, Angela at Three Buttons holds the key for more players of This Is. Click over and see!

At any rate, my favourite quotes change to suit the time in my life.. So here's three I love at the moment.

'Wrinkles are hereditary. Parents get them from their children.' Doris Day

or this one

'Any girl can look glamorous. Just stand there and look stupid.' Doris Day

or this one

'Cultivate your curves - they may be dangerous but they won't be avoided.' Mae West

Amen sisters.

Just for fun, here's a shot of me just fresh from the shower. Ah glamour. It's a perfect mix for changing nappies and playing trains.

This Is...What I'm Surprised I Like

When Victoria from Earl & Cookie declared this week to be the This is what I'm surprised I like week, well I scratched my head.

• I'd like to like fish - but I'm not a huge fan
• I'd like to like tofu - but it tastes like someone chewed it up already for me
• I'd like to say I like Iron Maiden - but you know, I just don't dig all that metal

Perplexed, I'm hitting straight from the heart. I'm surprised I like Nick Cave. I know, I know, everyone loves a bit of Nick in the morning, noon and night, but me, well I've always fought it. Fought it with a vengeance.

But I have to say, when Matt requested this song as the song to walk out of the church as a married couple to - well it wooed me. I'm still not a hardcore Nick Cave fan, but I'm coming around.


Thanks to Victoria for an ace theme, and thanks as ever to Angela at Three Buttons for bringing This Is into our bloggy lives. Woop woop!

And I am now on a bent to check out pineapple lumps. I've never seen them before but they sound ACE!

This Is... My Favourite Film (and a few more)

Thanks to Hokey this week for the great theme.. And as always go pay Angela at Three Buttons a visit to see more This Is players.

I love films. I don't get out to the movies much anymore (I can hear the Choc Tops calling me), but I do love a good DVD night.

A few of my favourites:

Life Is Beautiful - quirky, beautiful, amazing, unforgettable - Buongiorno principessa!



The Big Blue - another memorable film... Ahhhh. Although Rosanna Arquette is predictably ditzy.

Little Miss Sunshine - that dancing scene kills me every single time. Love it.

Me, You and Everyone I Know - such a great film, funny, silly..



Then of course I could go into the more romantic Pride & Prejudice (helloooo Colin Firth), Miss Potter, Marie Antoinette (love that costuming) but I'll stop myself here. Thanks for such a great theme Hokey!

This Is... My Current Reading Material

Another day, another photo rotated by Blogger.. Ahh, nothing like a bit of sideways action, is there?

Since having babies, I've kind of abandoned reading books. Bad me, I know, but it's finding more than five minutes to sit down and read - particularly when there's so many other things to do (tidy the house, cook dinner, jump into bins, washing fifty million piles of washing - you get the drill).

Truthfully, I could just put a picture of my computer on there, because that's pretty well the sum of what I read at the moment, blogs, online newspapers, Facebook and whereis.com. Standard.

But that's not so good for a girl who used to read a novel a weekend. So this is what's on my bedside table. I do have good intentions.

Grazia - my new favourite fashion hit.

And two new books given to me by a good friend for my birthday. My birthday is in June. I've still not started. Hopefully she's not going to be doing any pop quizzes on me, or I'll flunk out.

Something to Tell You - Hanif Kureishi...

&

The Sorrows of an American - Suri Hustvedt

I do read cookbooks too.. These are some of my favourites that I use all the time.

- anything by this guy

- or this one

- or this foxy lady

Thanks to My Champagne Dreams and thanks to Angela at Three Buttons for hosting This Is - welcome back!

This Is... My Favourite Kitchen Tool

I find kitchen tools and gadgets pretty exciting to look at. In fact, just thinking about it warms the cockles of my heart. All those brand spanking new wooden spoons, bowl scrapers, brand new shiny whisks, oh gosh, can you feel the love tonight?! The potential that all those tools hold - well it could even warm the sub-cockles of my heart. But the truth is, I don't really buy the gadgets, I just like looking.

But I do hold a special place in my heart for the OXO Apple Divider. Perfect for busy mamas on the hop.

But the biggest spot in my heart is reserved for this beauty, my (really our) Kitchenaid. She's a beauty. A wonderous thing. A wedding gift from my sisters. We bake cakes together. Biscuits. All manner of things. Together. All hail the Kitchenaid.

Thanks to Sharon at Handmaiden for this great topic close to my heart! For more This Is players, hop over to Three Buttons.

This Is.. Show Off Time

I've struggled with this week's theme from Katie. I can't come up with a plum thing. I could have stockpiled all my garbage bin treasure, but - as if I could have waited that long!

I don't have any amazing talents. Unless making a mess counts? I don't have any awe-inspiring collections. I'm not related to anyone famous. And I certainly don't have world record breaking anythings.

So what am I going to show off..? Good question my friends. Good question.

For now I'm still brainstorming..!

Anyway, consuming thoughts at the moment are with the stencil-along I signed up for so enthusiastically with Hoppo Bumpo. I've still not started - but that's not for lack of trying. I tried to purchase the enigmatic freezer paper locally, and you can't blame a girl for trying because - I just wanted to start then and there.. But here's the conversation that ensued (and please keep in mind, I know the woman who owns the shop):

Me: "Do you stock freezer paper?"

Shopgirl: "No. What do you want it for?"

Me: "I want to do some stencilling."

SG: "Oh well we don't have freezer paper, but you can just use baking paper."

Me: Silence. Dead stony silence. "Really?" Madly thinking - hmm, I've been reading all the blogs and no one has mentioned baking paper and really it would make sense to use it if you could - but you know, I just don't think that baking paper is going to fuse with the fabric... Hmmm. "Hmm, ok."

SG: "Or else we have some plastic stuff you can use."

Me: Re-thinking this phone call. Really - why did I bother? I should just get organised and buy it online and hurry the heck up. Then wondering how I can get out of this diplomatically. Decide that I will just play along. I know baking paper is not the key! "Ok, that's great, I'll try the baking paper (not in a million years)."

Seriously peeps, if you don't know about something - don't pretend you do. I am totally clueless about stencils, but have been madly reading blogs trying to get the lowdown. At least I am honest, can you imagine the debacle I would find myself in using baking paper. HA!

On the research front, I've found this cool website choc full of free stencils.. Is this cheating? Am I meant to be designing my own? Because if I design my own, things are going to get ugly. Real ugly. I mean even uglier than if I used baking paper.

Who wouldn't want this on a t-shirt? Or this woman who seems intent on letting everyone smell her armpits? Can someone tell me what's happened to this man's *ahem* appendage?

Anyway, the freezer paper is winging its way to me. I may be able to redeem myself yet. But let's not hold our breath.

This Is...What I Want To Be When I Grow Up

I'm very late - apologies to Cindy at Bugandpop for my tardiness. This is such a great theme, and I can go so many ways. Many, many ways. I have had many dream vocations, and still to this day do covet one or two careers (if it's possible to covet a career?!).

When I was really small I dreamt of being a teacher. That fizzled out.

Then I really, really wanted to become a lawyer. I dreamt about this. I thought about all the crooks I would throw in the clink (this must also tie into my completely nerdy CSI obsession).

Then someone told me it was six years at uni - and that was that dream career's undoing. Kaput.

In high school I wanted to become an actress. But the careers advisor told me I wouldn't make any money (thanks for the confidence in my acting skills, I don't see Cate Blanchett starving). Another careers advisor made us do these computer surveys to find out which jobs would suit best. You'll never guess what mine came back with. A funeral director. Huh? Yes. A funeral director. Hmm, no thanks. For one thing, I don't dig on hanging out with dead people. For the other thing, those people are wearing bad suits and are on a first name basis with baby's breath. I don't do suits and bad flowers are just bad.

I also badly wanted to be one of the hosts on Playschool (John and Benita were always my favourites). My Mum is so good she even rang up to find out if I could do work experience, but alas, apparently there's a massive waiting list. And then some. I still have this fantasy.

So this brings me to the now. I've probably left out a bazillion dream careers in between.

Right now I am dreaming of becoming:

- a bookshop owner

- a forensic agent (though, I don't want to hang out with dead people, so this rules this one out)

- the best mama I can possibly be

- and this is the big one, that I haven't really shared with anyone because it's my little dream - a midwife.

I had two beautiful, memorable births. I am amazed by the female body and all that it can do. It's a splendid thing. I wish everyone could have such wonderful experiences I have been lucky enough to have.

In a few years when my babes are a bit older I am going to apply to UTS where you can study midwifery without doing nursing. Genius. Then I could be Pottymouthmidwife. How's that?

And if I can't be a midwife, then I'd love to write children's books. Maybe.

Failing that, I may have to become a funeral director. Look out for me in a hearse near you.

Thanks to Bugandpop for outing my dream job of what I want to be when I grow up.

This Is... What I Do With A Spare Ten Minutes

The ever-vivacious Hoppo Bumpo came up with this week's theme. I've ummed and ahhed over it. I've mulled 'til the cows come home and then some.

What do I do with a spare ten minutes up my sleeve?

Paint my toes! (And then paint my sons at his request!)

Always a delicious shade of pink. Hot pink. Fuschia. Lolly. Candy Candy Candy! Lipstick Pink. Ballerina pink.. Rose pink. Pink does not stink! Oh I love them all...

This polish is my favourite.

I paint my toenails and I brighten up my day! A surefire quick fix for beating grey days!

Or alternatively, if I've already got pedi-perfect nails, I throw another load of washing on. Now that's exciting!

Thanks to Handmaiden for playing hostess of This is while Angela is jetsetting her way around the world!

This Is... My Absolute Favourite Band of All Time

CurlyPops set the hard task of deciding my favourite band of all time. So I am sticking with my favourite band of all time - for today.

Who can go past sweaty men in tight jeans, long dishevelled hair, hot lix guitars, writhing around on stage in pure rock ecstasy.. Hmm. Me too, doesn't sound that appealing to me either - they should use some deodorant or something.

Ha! Fooled you... The Strokes..

I've seen them play twice. And twice they were good. They were great. And Kings of Leon.. Phwoar.. Mmm. Mmmm. Mmmm. Click here to listen to Reptilia one of my favourite tracks.

Hop on over to Three Buttons to see who else is playing This Is..

This Is...My Favourite Art Store

Oxford Art Supplies.. An iconic art store on Oxford Street, Darlinghurst.

As soon as you walk in the door, the smell of paint, pencils and paper wafts to you. Beautiful. The shelves are jam packed with anything and everything that you could dream of, perfect for an art project.

The staff are fantastic, knowledgeable and thankfully, tend to be artists, so they know what they're talking about..

Plus - this is a little nostalgic for me, because Matt used to work there - and it was here, while he was unpacking paint, that I told him that we were expecting our Bean... Now that's over three years ago! And he continued stacking the paint in shock.

This store is a wonderful maze of art products, and a constant buzz, it's open til late and set right in the busy hub where uni students tend to flock.

Matt has lots of great friends from his days working here, and I remember undertaking some silly crank calls when he worked there - late at night.

Now there's also a Chatswood store that also houses a fantastic stock of art books. Brilliant!

Thanks to Handmaiden for a fun theme, and head on over to Angela at Three Buttons to check out who else is playing This is!

This Is... My Favourite Children's Book

Back when I was knee high to a grasshopper, I was a real book-maniac. So when I came up with this theme, I knew it would be a battle to choose just one. I've decided I can't just narrow it down. There are so many great children's books, so many I still enjoy reading as an adult, so I'll choose a selection..

First up 'The Tale of Two Bad Mice' by Beatrix Potter.. I always loved the way those renegade mice just broke into the dollhouse, stole all the bed linen, broke the (porcelain) ham, and just had free reign in a beautiful space. It reminds me of my being locked in a department store childhood fantasy for some reason.. The way the dolls returned to their home to find order usurped by two rodents - fantastic. Those dolls always kind of annoyed me with their primness.. Hunca Munca with her crazy name, going through the dollies house with great abandon, trying on the dollies clothes.. Throwing feathers around the bedroom, smashing up plates. I was definitely obsessed over that ham and those food cannisters that were filled with beads.

Click here and you can watch The Royal Ballet's performance of 'The Tale of Two Bad Mice'.
When I was a little older I loved all things Roald Dahl, particularly 'The BFG'. It was a grey day when Dahl died in 1990 (maybe I even cried).

And finally I can't go past Lauren Child's 'Charlie & Lola'. Such funny little people. And I love the 'Charlie & Lola' TV series. And until recently, I had forgotten about Ferdinand.. Ferdinand the bull who wouldn't fight, he preferred to smell the flowers.. Who doesn't love a flower-sniffing bull who chooses his own way?Thanks to Angela at Three Buttons for letting me choose this week's theme! Check out more This Is players over here.

In Case You Missed It...

For any punters that may have missed it, this week's theme for This Is....My Favourite Children's Book..

The book above is not mine, it's just an example of what a child genius might choose..

Click here and read what I was thinking (only because I am being lazy and can't be bothered to type it again - go figure since I just typed all of this).

Join up to This Is by visiting Angela at Three Buttons.

My formatting keeps going kaput. If anyone knows how to stop Blogger from condensing everything without hacking into the mainframe, perhaps you could drop me a line?

Carnival of Catch Ups

This is me catching up. Look at me - watch me type! Part of tomorrow's to-do list:

• Want to brighten up a friend's day, if you've got something to say head over here and send a Monk Email. I have spent way too long on this, but man, it is fun.
  
• Tomorrow I'll be putting on my Jerry Seinfeld-esque sneakers and heading out on the track to get my heart pumping in the interests of becoming a life-time member of this group. Join up.


• Go check out another pre-school for my little dude. I feel as though I am fumbling my way through this!


• Make puzzles with my little dude. And clock up some pasting/drawing time with him.


• Bake some bickies.. Stay tuned for those.. Something good, I can feel it in my bones...


• Oh and I know you're probably sitting on the edge of your seat, bated breath, can't-wait-any-longer... Well the theme for this week's This Is... Are you ready? (Gosh I hope this has not been done before - if it has tell me!!) This Is My Favourite Children's Book.. I hope it's a fun one for everyone! New, old, classic, current, picture, story, novel, whatever it is, I can't wait for everyone to share their favourite children's book - and everyone must MUST have one because, after all, everyone was a kid once. Capiche? Glad we've got that sorted. Now on with the show... Oh and if you want to join up to This Is (it's muchos fun) head on over to Angela at Three Buttons and she can hook you up!


• And the photo above.. Yep, totally unrelated.

This Is... How I Like To Spend The Weekend

Magnolia Bakery Cupcakes

Originally uploaded by Karen C Li

Yes, yes this is how I like to spend my weekend:
- sleep in late (doesn't happen, but I can dream)
- a relaxed breakfast, ideally consisting of Bills ricotta hotcakes
- a wander around a bookstore
- a meander through some markets, pick up a few pre-loved goodies
- a catch up with girlfriends
- a rumble with my babies
- some baking with my big boy, something sweet for my sweeties
- a DVD and a glass of sauvignon blanc
- a walk around the neighbourhood
- and a bit of lolling about in the sunshine, the beautiful sunshine.. Ahhhh...

That is if the kiddlies aren't holed up at home sick rendering all my weekend fantasies just that, a fantasy.

Might we have another weekend so we can try for all of the above ASAP? Roll on Friday.

Thanks to Angela at Three Buttons for hosting This Is.. And thanks to Bird Bath for this week's fun theme!

This Is... A Work In Progress

I could show you my yo-yos again. But really, I've not done any more since I last wrote about them.

So this is my work in progress with my little man.

We're doing papier mache. We're doing potato cuts. We're going old school.

I carved some wonky shapes out. We likey! That was yesterday...

Today we ripped up our paper, we made our glue, we blew up our balloon, and now we're getting into the nitty gritty and mache-ing til our hearts are content (which for him is about 10 minutes after we start).

Anyway, this little mache creation is destined for my Mum's birthday - our Ollie. It's in a month, so we've got plenty of time, though it could risk being put into the dreaded 'to do pile' which means she might get it in a year or maybe the 18th of Never.. but for now, we're aiming for her birthday. Watch this space!

Check out more This Is players over at Three Buttons.. And thanks to Debbie for this weeks theme!

This is... My Trade Secret

Amelia nominated this week's theme, and as always, Angela at Three Buttons is the hostess with the mostess.

I'm not going to make any 'crafty' statements here. Everyone knows I am a novice, so I won't go off giving you tips on something I am still learning.

My trade secret is this... Stila Convertible Color.. Unusual choice I know. But when you're a sleep deprived, time hungry mama you gotta have some tricks on the roll. This little beauty is a cheek and lip colour all in one. My my, it's a goodie. A little on the cheeks and you look like you've just returned from a looong weekend in Byron Bay. A little on the lips and you're ready to slip into that meeting, perfectly made-up, like you've had a long eight hours sleep (and not been up and down, up and down with wiggly babies that like to sing out at 3, 4, 5am). It's a steadfast friend in my make-up bag, and the compact, my oh my, the compact is so cute and girlie, which instantly makes it a must have.

This Is...

Merry go round

Originally uploaded by thedrjazz

This is what makes me happy.. Thanks to One Little Acorn for this week's brilliant theme.

Things that make me happy change from day to day.. So here goes:

- my babies - small hands, watching their personalities unfurl, learning each day, ah sweet beauty!

- my husband - we stumbled upon each other in a beautiful chance encounter, I could never get tired of looking into those eyes *sigh*

- my family - there's nothing better than family, to keep you grounded, to confide with, to laugh with, to celebrate with

- daydreaming - losing my time dreaming a little dream, big dreams, of merry-go-rounds, life in the country, berry-picking, long summer days eating mangoes and walking barefoot in the grass, lazy Sunday afternoons, the smell of wisteria riding on spring-warm air

- fresh bed linen, beautiful vintage finds, big belly laughs, dancing around to Prince or Michael Jackson...

- baking, and the eating of afterwards... Mmm.

- holidays - who doesn't love the excitement of a pending holiday

Thanks to Angela for hosting This Is...

This Is

Ridiculously late, I know, I know...

This is what gives me goosebumps, and definitely not in a good way.

I am scared of spiders. Silly I know. Huntsman spiders are hairy, harmless and they seem to follow me around. And in this house, there's only room for one of us. The unhairy, non-eight legged variety. Me. So they all must go where they're meant to be. Outside.

My fear started when my sister put my tracksuit pants on one day, and found a large huntsman in them. Crawling on her leg. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.

Yuck. Even this photo gives me goosebumps.

Thanks to Juddie for making me freak out this week. And of course Angela for hosting This is...

This Is...

My most treasured childhood posession.. Which really isn't a posession at all - it's my memories.

Growing up in a small town I am sure it was fuel for vivid imaginations.

This is me in our chook food bin. I must be about three or four. I got in there of my own accord. I remember my sisters and their friends climbing up on the fence, which was covered in ivy (I think) - I think I was too small to get up there. I remember feeding the chickens. My Mum and Dad tell me how enthusiastically I showed them the duck I had picked up - by the neck (and subsequently killed in my gusto). Jumping into swimming pools when I couldn't swim - not once, but twice and needing to be pulled out by my Mum (sorry Mum, the water looked so good). Standing on nails in bare feet. Ouch. Treading on a bee in bare feet and Mum whisking me up and popping me on the washing machine so she could get the sting out. Dad and I wearing our matching velour tracksuits. Our cats. I had such fun. Hiding in bushes. Riding bikes down the driveway. Following my sisters around, everywhere. Mixed lollies from the BP station. Eating Sao biscuits with plastic cheese on hot summer days with my best friend James.

Rose petal stamps with my grandmother Nonny. Standing on the stools in their kitchen, making cupcakes (that love started early), and Nonny letting me add strawberry flavouring - to this day I still remember them being the sweetest best tasting morsels ever. A pink silk feather duvet. Watching the proms on ABC with Nonny and Patty on Friday nights and eating fish and chips. Patting Chordy the cranky cat. The crepe myrtle that I still daydream about. Hanging washing on the line, with the scent of wisteria blowing over. Throwing tea on the rose bushes. Ranunculus, petunias, sweet, sweet peas - lines of them in the front garden. Patty looking over the top of his glasses at me, long neck of DA covered with a handkerchief.

And visiting our other grandparents on their property. Making the best cubbyhouses out of sticks - I still feel excited when I think of those. Driving on my grandfathers lap through the paddocks. Making Soda Streams when it was hot. Or just because. Limits biscuits (remember those??!). Daxie the sausage dog, loved him. 'Washing' my singlet in the toilet when I was three or four - goodbye singlet. The smell of the oven. Mars' memorable cakes - be still my beating heart! Beautiful handmade full-to-the-hilt-with-love gifts. Days of Our Lives and Young & The Restless.

I had such a beautiful childhood and I hope that when my children are older they can look back and have such vivid, exciting and happy memories.

Thanks to Teacups on Treetops for this lovely walk down memory lane, and thanks to Angela at Three Buttons for hosting This Is.