The Garage Sale Trail:: 26th October

I'm fan-girling Sally Seltmann, ambassador for The Garage Sale Trail 


Let's talk about vintage stuff. Pre loved stuff. It's the stuff of my dreams. Remember way back when I went skip diving for weeks on end. My friends, that was some kind of Utopian experience. Honestly. A high point in my life - and I know for many readers, it was a favourite period of PMM too. 

So a garage sale is high on my dream to do list. If I see a garage sale, I must pull over. It's like when it's hard rubbish and I spy something with potential goodness. Must pull over. Much to my husband's disgust.

Thankfully the last few weeks I've been getting a little ruthless tossing things out. Well actually just sending them off to other people, charities, and maybe hoarding for my own 'one day garage sale'. 

If you're like me, it will warm the cockles of your heart to know that The Garage Sale Trail is on the approach. Empty your shelves and coathangers my friends, and get ready to declutter, recycle, upcycle, and get shopping! 

You can register your own sale, and you'll be added to the map! Or if you're like me, you can map out the hot spots and get on the trail. My heart's palpitating just thinking about it. You can customise the sale, or search for something you're looking for. Is this all your wishes coming true? Sigh. Me too. 

My tips for hitting The Garage Sale Trail?

Get organised: Check out what sales are happening in your neighbourhood via the site. Then you can map your day out. Plus you need cash. Not necessarily lots of it, but don't take $50 notes and expect people to have change. I try and take a mix of notes and coins, and I set a budget. 

Take some bags: I always take a couple of bags when I go to garage sales. Then I can shop without stuff in my hands, and I have a bag to take home my purchases

Look carefully: When I go to sales, I get all panicky and think I have to grab things and buy. Bad move Lexi! Think about what you really want to buy - and keep that top of mind. When you find something you like - check it out, look for cracks, stains, missing buttons (are you really going to replace them?),  does it fit?

And lastly - but most importantly, do not WHATEVER YOU DO take your husband or your children. If you do, you will rue my words. Trust me my friends. 

The Garage Sale Trail Ambassador - Stylist Jason Grant 

The New Royal Baby:: Or The Fresh Prince

I remember vividly that day taking my babies home. Exhaustion, excitement, bewilderment, big love - all rolled into one memorable day.

I know the world has gone crazy with talk of the new Prince, but sometimes it's good to be carried away with something else. To lose yourself to something exciting and sparkly when real life is anything but.

I loved Kate's appearance in polka dots, an homage to Princess Diana when she appeared after the birth of William. She looks so happy, as does he.

I go melty at the sight of that newborn. Swoon.

Florals + Brights = WINNER!

Bold floral prints, bright colour, print and pattern clashing. Never has a 78 year old Australian woman looked so beautiful. Because that's how old Sussan is. Pretty hot right?!

And so the love affair continues.

As soon as I saw this dress on Sussan's Facebook page - I knew I had to have it. A Warhol-esque print in a timeless shift - perfect to slip on for work, and a great transeasonal piece - just throw on a cardi! Never before has a dress procured so many compliments (this one's a similar shape, or if you too really love the print, you can get it in this shirt).

And Tiny loves it too (we were both wearing bold florals so we had to be photographed together.)

If you're into frocks, you should most definitely try this one - it has a beautiful ombre of cream to a very pale petal pink at the hem. And it has POCKETS!! YES! I love frocks with pockets! I am still unconvinced I don't need this one.

Being a big fan of being comfortable, I had to try on these pants. Talk about comfortable. I probably could have gone down a size, but I like the less fitted feel - and don't tell anyone - but they have an elasticated back which is perfectly suited to long lunches (which I never seem to go on - but it doesn't stop me dreaming). Couple it with this punchy hibiscus knit - well hello ladies! I am not one to shy away from the bold and the beautiful, and this marriage of print and colour is a marriage made in heaven (and ridiculously comfortable). Plus that hue teamed with my pink lipstick - yes please!

I could bang on and on about the new Summer Collection from Sussan - but without doubt, they've filled a void in the fashion terrain for women who want smart, accessible fashion.

If you've not been into Sussan for a while - the time is nigh.

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Epilogue: I have discovered that my husband really detests taking my photo. I asked him to take these shots for me, and he resisted at first, then succumbed to my charms. However I did have to ask him to reshoot given he was in such a hurry to have it over and done with, they were all blurry.

He likes drawing me. But hates photographing me. I've come to the conclusion that: when he draws me, I have to sit very, very still and not talk. But when he takes photos of me, I talk and I move.


 

* This is a sponsored post.  I was given a $100 Sussan gift voucher, and then I went a little nuts and paid the difference. And yet I am still dreaming about what lies within Sussan. Honesty is my only policy. I tried it. I liked it. I wanted to share.

Tres Excited! The Great Gatsby

Be still my beating heart!

As sure as I am PottyMouthMama, Baz Luhrmann is a genius.

I can not wait to see The Great Gatsby (out December 2012). Look at Gemma Ward. Look at those finger curls. Those feathers. The razzle. The dazzle. THE BOATER. That jaw line. Oh sorry - let me get back to Gemma. Woweeeee!

I've got butterflies just thinking about it. I love the visual feasts that are synonymous with Luhrmann films. The richness of the imagery. I love being swept away into another time and place. I love Luhrmann.

Now I'm going to curl up in bed and re-read my battered copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald's literary genius.

image via Fashionologie
you can see more shots here of Leonardo diCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan

Handmade Revolution

Holy cow! I never knew there was such goodness about 20 minutes from home.

On Saturday the smalls and I headed to the Powerhouse Discovery Centre for their Handmade Revolution open day.

We had such a lovely time. I wish both my smalls were less grumpy - particularly the bigger small, but not to worry, I can't wait to head back.

We made paper lace, participated in the outdoor weave in (I loved this), watched as ladies made lace (something I would love to learn), and had a go of 3 metre knitting needles. And I even got to chat with Shane Waltener, the artist behind the weave in. That was pretty thrilling.

This place is the business!

The Powerhouse Discovery Centre also hosts a number of activities during the school holidays. Amongst them, Lego workshops. I'm sure you can guess who's being booked in. Unfortunately - not me. But I know the Doctor will dig it!

+++ Check out the Mexican-stylie wheelie bin: it serves as their solar powered PA system. How cool is that?!

I'm Ready! Wedding Countdown Is On

I told you I'd dress for the occasion. We've hosted our own shoot and here I am, ready and waiting for 5pm to roll around.

My partner, Earl Grey and I will be attending the weddding together.

We're excited. In fact, I may even have butterflies.

This Is Like My Pinboard: A Party

My little man is turning six next month. Six. Wow. That is crazy talk.

And yet, we've promised a small birthday party to celebrate this 'six' thing. I mean, come on now, who said he could turn six so soon?

We've talked about party games (to which he replied: "Nope, no games!" and the kid in me responded: "What?! No games? What kind of a party is that?").

We've compromised on:

- Musical chairs

- Freeze

- Pin the tail on the donkey

But there's to be no pass the parcel. I tried renaming it to: Pass the gift. Nope. Pass the multi-layered present. Nope. I'll keep working on that one.

Maybe I can wrangle a pinata?

We've talked about looking at the good old Australian Women's Weekly cake cookbook together to decide on a cake. That's a date!

I've been checking out the Queen of inspiration, Martha Stewart's website. I'm sure I'll attain entertaining prowess by osmosis.

Anyone got any birthday party suggestions? I'm thinking we have it at a park - or is that ker-azy?

Images via Martha herself.

Bill Cunningham

Holy gwackas - this looks all sorts of amazing. And then some. Can. Not. Wait.

Bill Cunningham. Zeitgeist. Far out, he's a real force. Amazing.

Seriously. ICANNOTWAITFORTHISONE!

via The Sartorialist

The Good News Is...

If you've ever stepped foot into Calico & Ivy in Perth, you'll know that it's a beautiful place to visit. My sister introduced me to the shop on my one and only trip to Perth back in '62 (ok it was 2007), and ever since, I've thought about that beautiful space and the goodies within.

Pretty soon you won't have to visit Perth to taste some of the Calico & Ivy sweet action. You can read more here - and finally the secret identity of my very clever sister is revealed. Yes there she is - WOMP there it is!

That's exciting news - yes?

On the homefront, we insisted on Tiny having a sleep yesterday. She woke up a completely different person, fresh for Halloween. And she wasn't even a ghoul! On the insistence of the Doctor (who didn't want to dress up), we went trick or treating. It was, despite my aversion to Halloween, really fun.

Thanks for everyone's kind words on the Tiny front. It made me feel infinitely better. Phew. That's gotta be good!

image via the Calico & Ivy website - how cute is that? I want to uproot our family and move straight in! That black beetle is the clincher.

Hey Baby!

It's almost the weekend - yeah baby. This weekend I think I am going to get a hair cut - I'm rocking a shocking fright wig. I'm growing it out, and yet, I can't stand this in between stage. Do I stay or do I go?

We're going to rock some serious time in the outdoors and make the most of the sunshine, if it sticks around.

I'm thinking of re-reading this book. It's one of my all-time favourites.

I'm going to listen to this CD by Luluc. Matt gave it to me this week as a surprise, he knows I love love love them. And this CD is a knockout.

And I'm going to play catch up on my thank you notes. I am way behind, but I have managed to bang out a few here and there, and it's been fun.

What are you up this weekend?

Pretty Bloody Exciting!

Here's something exciting! PottyMouthMama was included in a list of top 10 mummy bloggers in the brand spanking issue of Shop 4 Kids. I was totally surprised.

Meanwhile the Doctor is completely chuffed that his dragon (as seen on the header) is in the magazine (a small picture) and is going to tell everyone at pre-school about this revelation, "Great, I was right, now I am in a magazine, next time I will get in the papers with my dino bones." (A girl at his pre-school does lots of advertising work so I do believe he's been harbouring some small form of competitiveness and yearning to make it to the broadsheets ever since then. And he's been fuelled by finding dino bones in my parent's backyard.)

If you're new to PottyMouthMama - welcome. I am Australian. But I'm not wearing a cork hat. Disappointed much?

image courtesy of Ange at KidStyleFile

Welcome Back Cotter.

Friends! Romans! Ladies of the knitting circle!

I have interwebz. I can haz cheezburger. I'm back in da 'hood!

Excited much? My Google Reader cup, it runneth over.

So much to blog about, so little time. So much to catch up on.

Over the past few weeks I've been living off meagre interwebz, now I feel as though I can take the skies again. What did I do before the interwebz? Probably had a life. Ahem.

What did you do before the interwebz?

Today I Am Ridiculously Excited!

Gather 'round friends, everybody get close, listen up, I want to yell something out. From the rooftops, into everyone's chimneys, sneak up behind people, I have something to share.

We are moving house next week.

Right at this moment I am feeling so giddy with excitement. I have butterflies fluttering about in my stomach. I can't stop thinking about where everything's going to go (and fit) in our new digs.

And it doesn't really matter, because for the very first time in our marriage, in our history as parents, we're going to have our very own home to call our own.

This is big peeps. I feel so damn excited.

This may or not be the house. If it's not, I am ok, it's probably really dusty and the lawnmowing would take us weeks. Here ends today's blog post.

Hats Incredible (Get it?)

Have I ever mentioned I really love hats? Chapeaus of the world unite. I love you! I doff my cap to you.

I have a small, and yet, ever growing collection of hats. Over the next few weeks I will share them because they are cute and they deserve it.

I've not yet mentioned that in a few weeks I am doing a short millinery course. I am tres excited! I've been collecting inspiration. Here are some of my beloved. Coco. Anna Piaggi. 'nuff said.

Drawing

a duck - see the bill? wild!

We gave the Doctor a chalk marker to draw on the windows. Some people might think we're asking for trouble, grooming our own little graf artist, but we see it as a little art gallery in our house. He's been decorating the windows madly drawing us, the dog, the cat, the ducks. Oh man. Do you know how exciting it is to see his figurative work evolve? Damn exciting. I love those little figures. In fact, I am hooked on them. I am always asking him to do me artworks because they are so damn clever.

On another front, how beautiful is this new clip from Sia? Shadow play and sign language, colour and cool. She's a clever AUSSIE gal. I know you love it. And this old clip is one of my all time favourites.

Average April

There's nothing wrong with being average. Most people are average on first glimpse, though once you take a closer, longer look, they are supersonic. Charge your glasses, because FINALLY Magical March is at a close. Phew. There were days when I didn't think I would make it all because of the pressure of my own sodding project, but I've made it out the other side. Thanks to everyone who participated.

As part of April I am going to be blogging daily about what's average in my life. Just jokes. BUT - exciting things happening here right now-skis...:

- received my copy of Meet me at Mike's - so exciting, can't stop looking at it. But where to start? 26 projects to choose from... Where are you starting? At the start?

- my Mum brought down my grandmother's sewing machine. The one that was missing the pedal. Yes. Now thanks to my Mum it has a pedal and is ready to roar into the evenings. I've been practising sewing making a bath mat and towel for the Doctor's doll house

- we're getting ready for the Super Dooper Mail Swap organised by Christie at Pigeon Pair. The Doctor's excited big stylie to get some mail, and we're super excited to be getting crafty with some postcards. Just don't expect too much from us, alright?

- my Dad thinks I seriously think alright is spelt awright. Nope - Dad I really know how to spell it, I was just being a geezer

- it's raining and I love the rain. Perfect for snoozing

- I played a really great April Fool's joke on my sister - yeeehaaaaw!

- Easter is JUST AROUND THE CORNER - giddy up, Easter craft here we come.