What's Your Favourite?

Big question today. Big. Big question. 

What's your favourite song - of all time?

You can have a few, but if you had to name one, right this very minute, what's the first one that pops into your mind?

This is mine! 

It reminds me of a friend (Catho!), when we were young and carefree. And could go out dancing. And drinking. And dancing. And drinking. 

It never fails to put me in a good mood. I know both words. I love the video clip. It's ace. Of base. And then some. 

What's yours? 

Happy New Year Skin: Four Firm Favourites

I'm sprucing up my skin for the New Year and am sharing four products that are my favourites.  You may have already bared all on the beach, but me? I'm the type of person who sneaks off to the beach at the very tail-end of the day to avoid the sun (and crowds). And my face needs some serious TLC. 

So friends - here are four of my favourites to share with you. 

1. Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant $67.50:: For a long time, I'd been avoiding exfoliating my skin. What a mistake. Not only does it slough away dead skin and removes dulling surface debris, but it dramatically improves my skin texture. This one is a goodie - as it provides chemical exfoliation with a two-in-one masque treatment - and the lactic acid and salicylic acid speed up cell renewal, and it's super gentle. Sulfur clears the skin by eliminating breakout-causing bacteria while clearing excess oil and follicle congestion - which is perfect for me, because - even though I'm 33, I am still not clear of breakouts. Boo hiss to that - but wild party for this exfoliant.

2. Ella Bache Great Tan Without Sun $40:: I have been a devout user of this fake tan for over 12 years. I'm one of those people who - if I find something I really, really love - I'll stay loyal. There are a number of reasons why I'm compelled to tell you about this - probably one of my most favourite beauty products. Ever. 

I have very fair skin - and lots of fake tans don't really lend themselves to this. I've found that if I dilute this a little with some regular body moisturiser, it gives me the perfect subtle tan - rather than looking like an Ooompa Loompa. Secondly, applying fake tans can be risky business - particularly if the formula wipes on with no colour. The Great Tan is a brown colour - so immediately you can see where you've applied it - and where it needs to be removed, pronto. While most fake tans stink - you know, I know - when you smell that tell-tale odour - you know someone's been faux-tanning. This one is subtle, next to no odour. And finally, the formula is moisturising - leaving your skin feeling hydrated it protects the skin's natural barrier.

3. Garnier Body Intensive Ultra-Softening Lotion with Mango Oil for Dry, Rough Skin $6.95 :: Anything containing mango gets my thumbs up. I love mangoes in the daytime. In the night time. Anytime. I grabbed this from the supermarket one day - dubious about just how good a $7 moisturiser could be. Well the news is - very good. It leaves your skin silky, nourished - with a nice sheen - and not sticky (the sign of a good moisturiser in my book).

4. Clarins Eau Dynamisante Invigorating Fragrance $65::  Nothing says summer to me like this fragrance. Fresh and invigorating, I love a splash of this on one of those heinously hot days - plus it reminds me of my Mum. 

Bottoms Up!

I have a thing for San Pellegrino. I really, really love San Pellegrino water, and if I am a bit down, or want a treat, I buy myself a bottle (I know, last of the big spenders). 


Not only that, I really like drinking out of those bottles. I am a bit pedantic when it comes to tracking my water intake, and I prefer to drink out of glass. I just have a soft spot for San Pelle. 


Sometimes I have a bottle after a difficult day at work, or if I'm not feeling well. Or I just refill the bottle with tap water. I hold onto those bottles because I am cray.


However it came about in a conversation the other night, when Tiny asked me for some. The Doctor said: "No Tiny, you can't - that's Mum's wine."


The Doctor thought after all these years of me walking around with the big green San Pellegrino bottle that I was swilling wine from a bottle. In the morning, at lunchtime, at night. In the car. Everywhere. 


I promptly informed them that it was in fact fizzy water, and they could indeed have some. 


Vintage San Pellegrino poster image from here

Right Now:: Favourite Children's Books

Our kids have a voracious appetite when it comes to books. They have their own library cards and regularly borrow up to 20 books a pop. Which is a bit of a drag when it comes to overdue fines of which we seem to be acquiring a few of late. Eeep. But borrowing from the library is fun - choosing whatever you want, from a plethora of books, it feels exciting. And in my book books should be exciting!

Today's Goop listed favourite children's books. A topic close to my own heart. I enjoyed reading Gwyneth's recommendations along with a whole cache of stars. I could sit in Kinokuniya for hours looking at their children's books. I often steal time to go in there - lucky for me it's close to Matt's work.

Books are definitely one of my weaknesses - and I often feel guilty for buying the smalls books - but thankfully Matt always comes to my aid to tell me there's no need to feel guilty for buying books because they are so important for so many reasons.

Otherwise I read online about books. Reading about books can be fun and drool-worthy too!

Here are some of our current favourites:

Tiny's picks (she's 2) -

Emily's Balloon - a really beautifully illustrated book by Komako Sakai

Emily's has a yellow balloon that she takes home with her, by the afternoon it's more than a balloon, it's a beloved friend. What happens when the balloon floats away? The simple charcoal drawings are evocative of the 60s, so sweet and cute.

Good Night Me - Andrew Daddo & Emma Quay

Even I love, love, love this book (not that I'm the toughest critic). It's a simple premise, saying good night to each body part as a way of unwinding the mind, but so beautifully and simply done. We go back to this one time and time again. And the illustrations are delightful.

The Doctor's picks (he's almost 5)...

Gulpilil's Stories of The Dreamtime - first published in 1979. This is a fantastic book. My parents gave me a copy when I was 9, and now the Doctor is enjoying hearing the stories of the Dreamtime. It might be difficult to find a copy now, but here's one on Amazon, Book Depository.. Can't find any online Australian stockists... !

Wild Animal Hunt: Search with a torch for the animals and then read about them. This is a fun book to look at together and 'spot' the animals.

The Story of Things: Neal Layton

We love Neal Layton in this house. He has lots of great books and they have kooky cute illos that are fun and appealing. It's pop-up too, so there's lots to see and read about - from farming, inventions, steam, electricity, it's interesting and educational! BOINg!

What are you reading right this very minute?

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

Quiet Music

I'm having a real love affair with Bon Iver's music at the moment. Love to love.

Etsy Love

Quite often you can find me on the internet, spending loads of cash.. Well, dreaming of spending loads of cash, on loads of things I don't need.. Loads of beautiful things. And then when I get to the end of the transaction, I close the screen. I'll share some of my current Etsy love so we can pretend we're shopping together, giggling in the changerooms and all that.

While I'm not doing so well on making handmade goodies, I'm going great guns at buying handmade.. Just don't tell my husband.. Nah, it's all for Christmas presents anyway - don't get your knickers in a knot Matt!
How cool are these knits from Yokoo?? Dang, we're heading into Spring/Summer.. Next Winter, I'm there!

I saw this dress/top from NZ duo AnemoneCrafts featured on Bliss (and subsequently bought it for my baby girl) how cute is that? And it's not pink.

From Melbourne's Peta Pledger this cute shirt.

And now if you thought I had just gone into some sort of fashion-frenzy, I'm going to do a switch stance 180 and show you...


..the most beautiful paper goods from Sycamore Street Press. I bought some beautiful cards from here, and I am going to go back for more, I love them so much.


...I bought this necklace ages ago. I love it. It's so bright and quirky, and - as a double bonus - it's a great nursing necklace because the little one has so much to look at and feel.. PolkaDotThunder has lots of cute and kooky pieces to choose from.

..this gorgeous apple jar from Ladies & Gentlemen... (plus check out their gorgeous blog here)

..and a beautiful selection of vintage pieces from Paper Dolls For Boys.. Check out those chestnuts (with witty captions to boot!).

I'm all shopped out and off to bed. Peace.

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..

Well Overdue

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!!

Some time ago, I won the most fabulous prize from the very lovely Kirsty at Kootoyoo.. It's one of those things that will be (and already is) treasured from here 'til way, way down the track when I have grandchildren of my own.. This beautiful music box.

My children already love it. My little man loves to look at it, listen to it. My sweet babe loves to hear it, when she's getting dressed, nappy changes, or quiet times at night.. Oh it's sweet my friends.. Their mama has placed it high on a shelf, out of reach, but not out of view. And I love it too.

Go visit Kirsty and check out her plethora of fantastic creations.. There's plenty to look at, and more recently - this fantastic bag that everyone's talking about. Genius!