Happiness is...

Making me happy this sunny (can you believe there are endless blue skies in Sydney today?) Tuesday is:

These pretty gardenias my mum brought me (with the hydrangeas from my garden).

These '50s cat-eye sunglasses I've been looking for for ages.
I also found the most perfect retro swimmers ever.

My super soft, green grass. The benefit of all this rain.

The Christmas tree and stockings we put up this morning (the tree has already been knocked over twice)

What's making you happy this Tuesday?

Christmas crazies

On Saturday, as I tackled the shopping centre to get all the Christmas gifts in one hit, I took a look around at the chaos and was hit by a big question – why? Why do we do all this? It really is quite odd.

Imagine what the Christmas festivities would look like if you're an alien who's just dropped out of the sky. People running around the shops trying to buy up anything and everything, like the world is going to end on December 25 and you're really going to need that Super Soaker, cricket set and copy of John Howard's Lazarus Rising to survive the apocalypse.

People stockpiling pretzels, chips, bottles of soft drink, puddings, shortbread, turkey, ham. Filling trolleys full of Christmas crackers, rolls of wrapping paper, plastic Santa Clauses and tinsel.

Decorating their homes with snowmen, reindeers and fake snow, as the sun blazes down.

We queue for hours to force our kids to sit on the lap of a strange old bearded man, dressed like he's about to go out in the snow when it's pushing 30C outside, and take a picture. Any other time of the year, we'd be ushering our kids away from such a character.

Catching up with everyone we've ever known before December 25, again like the apocalypse is coming and it's our last chance to see our nearest and dearest.

Spending Christmas day unwrapping presents we don't always like, sweltering in the kitchen baking turkeys and hams, catching up with long-lost cousins, aunts and uncles we never otherwise see. Stuffing ourselves full of food and grog, until we pass out of the lounge physically unable to move.

Of course, there is the whole birth of Christ reason behind this madness, but for how many people does religion actually play any part of Christmas? Very few, I'd say. I think even a local church is a little confused, this is an invitation we received for the Dora the Explorer Christmas Eve service for Kids.

I knew Dora was an explorer, I just didn't realise she went to Bethlehem for the birth of Christ. She really did do it!

Now, don't think of me as a Grinch, cause I'm not. I love Christmas and I love all of the madness and craziness of it. I even love Christmas shopping. I love catching up with strange relatives. Some of my most favourite childhood memories are of sitting around a table wearing silly paper hats, reading terrible jokes and watching the adults have a few too many sherries. And laughter, lots of laughter.

I also realise there are many people out there who wish they could have a strange family to sit around a table with, buy an ugly six-pack of hankies for and even argue with. I know that being able to throw myself head-first into Christmas craziness is a privilege.

But really, it's all a bit odd isn't it?

Running for Afghani women

A bloggy friend of mine Sharni Montgomery from Sharnanigans is currently raising money for a very good cause. Please watch her video below and help if you can.

Yule shop till yule drop

Bring on the repetitive Christmas muzak, bring on the car park, bring on the crazed shoppers. I'm ready for you all today. That's right folks, I'm heading Christmas shopping today.

The kids are off to their grandmother's and we're planning on doing ALL the Christmas shopping today. Yep, you read that right. It's going to be a one-stop, shopathon. With my bad back and all. 

Chances are we'll end up with nothing. It's highly likely that I'll end up at Go-Lo on Christmas Eve. Or everyone will receive craft from the kids. But, damn it, I'm going to give it my best shot today.

Wish me luck!

The smiling assassin

Goosey has life on a string.

Life is fairly interesting at the moment, you never know quite what is going to happen next. The reason I'm being kept on my toes is a little person called Goosey. Who's 2.5 years. I'm certain all those who've had 2.5 year-olds are nodding their heads at this moment saying "Ah, yes."

Living with a 2.5 year-old is like living with a ticking time bomb. You know it's going to go off, you're just not really sure when or the kind of devastation it's going to cause. Normally I walk around the house, all senses alert ready to jump at any sign of danger. This week, I've had a crook back so I'm not as agile as I could be. This has resulted in a lot of devastation. I admit, mainly my fault. Those moments of silence when I know she's doing something she shouldn't, but the thought of pain shooting up my back as I go to see just make me enjoy those seconds of silence – even if it means a lot more pain later.

Here's just snapshot of some of the events of the past couple of days:

* A box of washing powder was tipped into the toilet.

* A box of breadcrumbs was poured all over the kitchen floor, Goose stripped off and rolled around in them naked. Odd, very odd. I normally never buy breadcrumbs, as they're so easy to make, but I couldn't face it the other day so perhaps this is my penance for buying a box of Krummies.

* She ''helped" a baby crawl by dragging her around the yard and then put a bucket on the baby's head.

* She pulled a photo frame off the wall and tore up the photo inside.

* She bolted out of the library, up a ramp and nearly onto the main road.

* She bolted out of a restaurant, up the street to perform a song on her 'stage'.

* She constantly drags a chair over to the kitchen sink so she can do the washing up.

* She rubbed half a tube of my hand cream all over her face.

* Drank soy sauce out of the bottle, out of the fridge.

* She drew with pink crayon all over the glass doors.

* She destroyed a Christmas display in a shop as I helped her sister try on shoes. All the while flashing her killer smile, fluttering her long lashes and the shop assistants cooing: "Isn't she just adorable!" 

These are just some of the highlights from the past day and a half. Then, of course, she'll throw her little arms around you and say: "I love you, Mummy. I like your pretty dress. You're garbage."

The funny thing is, she loves rules. She gets upset if other people break the rules, if things are out of place. She loves telling Lil-lil: "You can't do that", "Don't spill it" "Don't say that to Mummy", "Don't put that there". She's chaos and order rolled into one little curly-haired package. I truly think she'll make a fabulous dictator one day.

This and that

Summer Mad Men-style. Just because I can.

Today I'm posting a mish-mash of things I've been meaning to post about.


To start:

The end of the year is fast approaching, so I thought it was time to be brave and check out my 10 in 2010 to see if I achieved anything.

1) Eat healthy and drink less (or not at all). Well I don't know about the healthy eating part, but I haven't drunk much this year.

2) I want exercise to be a regular part of my day (yawn... I know, I know all very boring stuff but necessary). Total fail. Total, total fail. That's all I'll say.

3) I want to pamper myself more - take more time out for just me; buy myself clothes; do my nails; spoil myself with a pretty bauble now and again; get my hair done regularly. I didn't get here 100%, but there was a definite improvement. I think I have looked after myself better, but there's definitely room for improvement in 2011.

4) Take some singing/music classes. I have been wanting to do this for so long, but now I want to find a way to make it happen. Nup, another fail. I really wish I did this, but it's really expensive. Maybe next year?

5) Have a beach holiday with my family. Success! We actually went on two beach holidays this year!

6) Start a long-term saving/investment plan. Another fail.

7) Finish my backyard (it's been a project in progress for two years!) and make it a lovely place to be. Success! We now have a completed backyard to enjoy.... Now if this rain would just stop...

8) Plan an overseas holiday for 2011 - either New York or France (or both!). No, no plan.

9) Cook a sensational three-course French meal for Skip (doesn't really go with number 1, I know). Haven't done it yet, but there's still time isn't there? Maybe NYE?

10) Find a wonderful dream to chase and start chasing it. In some strange way, I think this blog has been the wonderful dream. At least that's what I'm claiming.

Well, according to my list, 2010 hasn't been all that I hoped it would be, but hey, I have a month to do all the things left on the list! Anyone want to help me?

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Two days ago, I was feeling tired and cranky. I was having a fairly crap afternoon. While I was sitting in a doctor's waiting room, I tweeted "Feeling tired, crank and a tad emotional. #pleasepassthechocolate"

I then received a tweet from Coles saying they couldn't get me some then, but would the next day do?

I just thought they were joking along with me, but low and behold, last night there was a knock at the door and a Coles man stood there holding a bottle of French champagne and a package with a variety of chocolate. 

Some times, all you have to do is ask and you will receive!

Thanks Coles, you certainly brightened my dull day. 

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So in the theme of asking and receiving, here's my Christmas list:

* Books - Mad Men Unbuttoned; Keith Richards' Life; Jonathan Franzen's Freedom; Actually any new book I'd love.

* Mad Men series 3/4 on DVD

* Movie/theatre tix

* '60s-style sundress

* Music/singing lessons (see above)

*Antique ring (art deco-style or a pearl ring)

* A beach house.

Not too much to ask for? Surely.

What do you want Santa to put in your stocking?

Booked out

This morning, as the rain teamed down and the girls were off at playgroup with their Grandma, I was on a mission. Being December 1, I wanted to get the girls an advent calendar – one that didn't have chocolate in it or was covered in Disney Princesses or My Little Ponies, as nice as they are (and if you're my daughters you think they're pretty bloody great) I don't recall Cinderella having that much to do with Christmas. I was hoping to find one of those daggy cardboard ones that you open up and there's a picture of some bells or holly, like I used to have when I was a kid. I didn't want to spend a fortune and buy one that was handcrafted and I don't want to handcraft one myself,  as me and craft just don't get along.

Soaked from carrying kids in and out the car on the drop-off, my hair dripping and feeling despondent as I'd failed to turn up anything slightly resembling what I wanted at a couple of shops, I stepped into a bookshop. Almost instantly, I was awash with the smell of new books, the peace and quiet and that indescribable feel a bookshop has. I was instantly intoxicated by it all. Floating a couple of inches off the ground, I flicked through all the new releases out in time for Christmas, I compiled a list of summer reading and I completely lost myself. Advent calendar? What advent calendar?

I adore bookshops. When I grow up I want to own one. I want to sit behind the counter, drinking cups of tea, dishing out advice on the latest best sellers. I want to stack the shelves and feel the shiny covers and the weight of the books as I slide them into their right place. I want to arrange book marks and knick-knacks on the counter. I want to inhale the smell of brand-new books all day long.

When I stepped out the shop about 45 minutes later, empty-handed, I felt calm, serene and fulfilled. Who needs valium?

Image by Johanna Ljungblom