Clothes and jewellery to die for...180a Latrobe

 So I don't usually editorialise on my blog or blatantly try to flog products to my readers.

However sometimes exceptions must be made and this is definitely worth an exception!

My wonderful and exceptionally talented friend Kathy McLay has been an incredibly artistic designer of jewellery and sculpture for many years and has enjoyed some tremendous successes. Trust me, her designs are exquisite. And if you don't trust me, check out her website by clicking on her name above and you'll be a Kathy convert too, clamouring for her to design you something special.

So it is quite fitting that she has teamed up with another equally talented textile and fashion designer, Katelyn Aslett and together they have launched their store at 180a Latrobe Terrace in fabulous Paddington, Brisbane.

And I'm drooling.

Just one look at the pictures below makes me want to sink into debt just to walk in and buy everything. I mean everything.

That pink and black jacket...OMG. Plus every item in the very bottom pic...ah hell, let's face it, I want it all.

I'm so excited for their new venture which is coming up to its one month anniversary! And to celebrate, this week they're having a 'Bring a Friend' week, with discounts and even a glass of bubbly tomorrow from 3pm.  Please make sure you support these gorgeously talented artists and check out their websites...personally I think I'll be sinking quite a bit of my salary into 'investing' in their wares on a far-too-regular basis.

It's wonderful to be able to give support to a friend with so much talent and who happens to be simply the nicest person I've ever met in our 25+ year friendship (sorry Cathy, Larissa, Jane et al, but you know it's true).

And with my 'big' birthday coming up in September if Kathy felt like creating something for me, then I'll just have to gracefully accept.

So 'like' them on Facebook (180a Latrobe) and check out their websites for that 'something special' that you know you need! You know you want to!

Bec xx

Never throw a moose out of an aeroplane in Alaska.

So dancing the night away in Japan is apparently illegal and there are 'entertainment spaces' where you can actually be asked to please stop moving to the music. True story.

Now I'm fully aware that there is a segment of the population whose dancing really IS a crime against humanity and should be punishable by law to it's full extent. I mean, really. I know there's a saying that you should dance like no-one is watching, but seriously folks, it's meant to be a metaphor for life...remember there is ALWAYS someone watching...and perhaps cringing. Corporal punishment is perfectly OK in these circumstances. Unless they like it, but that's another story for another kind of blog entirely.

It's like sing as if no-one's listening. Out of consideration for the population at large and all the pets in the neighbourhood, I tend to only sing WHEN no-one is listening. It's a public service (cause I'm giving like that) and anyone who's ever had the misfortune to inadvertently hear my warbling would totally agree.

However Japan has really taken this to the extreme. Imagine being somewhere listening to music and involuntarily tapping your foot and bobbing your head and suddenly you're being police-escorted towards the exit.

Christ, I'd be arrested at work for God's sake. I just realised while perusing Madonna's early catalogue through my earphones that I'm having to restrain myself from singing aloud (see rule above) and I am certainly wiggling around in my seat like I have worms whilst enjoying Into The Groove (arguably Madonna's best effort ever).

Which led me to ponder the strange and insane laws that are in effect around the world (a logical segue, naturally).

Did you know that in Alabama it is illegal to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter in church? Or in Indiana any male driver with a female passenger under the age of 17 better make sure she's wearing her shoes and socks otherwise you could find yourself arrested for statutory rape. And whatever you do, please ensure that you do not strap your children to your car roof or bumper whilst in Oregon.

And heaven help you if you're drunk and in possession of a cow... where else but Scotland? Of course.

Apparently in New York you're allowed to go topless provided it's not for any business purpose. Something to remember when I'm there later this year! Whereas in Liverpool it's only allowed if you're selling exotic fish...perfectly logical.

And let us not leave out Ireland...I have a particular fascination with this country as I'm firmly convinced they're all certifiably insane, in the best possible way. One of the funniest books I've ever read is Tony Hawks' personal account called 'Round Ireland with a Fridge' (go on, read it, you know you want to) which is, surprisingly enough, based on his true adventure of hitching around Ireland with...you guessed it...a fridge. Based on a drunken pub bet that in Ireland people would pick up anyone, no matter how crazy looking, it's a great read that proves everything I've always thought about the Irish. Before I get lambasted by anyone of Irish descent, I say this with a great deal of love and some diluted Irish blood running through my own veins.

So with great anticipation I googled crazy laws in Ireland, and I wasn't disappointed. 

• If a leprechaun calls at your door, you must give him a share of your dinner
• It is illegal to perform any kind of witchcraft in Dublin
• The Tippling Act 1735 prohibits a publican from pursuing a customer for money owed for any drink given on credit (explains a lot)
• At Trinity College, students can demand a glass of wine during an exam. Would make studying far more pleasant indeed...
• Now overturned but once true: the penalty for suicide was death by hanging. Of course

 Having said all of this, I just googled crazy laws in Australia, and as it says that taxis by law have to carry a bale of hay in the boot (trunk) and that hot pink pants are illegal after midday on Sundays, I may have to take the laws above with a grain of salt. I mean, hot pink pants should be illegal under most circumstances but really?

What weird but true laws are still in effect where you live

? I'd love to hear them.

Bec  xx

Would you pick this girl as your Mentor? Oh dear.

Further to yesterday's extreme caffeine deprived addled post, I would like to say that three coffees and several diet cokes later...and well, nothing improved. Oh dear.

Thankfully Tuesday has dawned clear, bright (albeit freaking cold) and whilst I did hit snooze far too many times this morning, it wasn't quite the panic stations of yesterday and I even managed to get here in time for my visit to my dealer coffee provider which always makes things just dandy.

So I wrote briefly last week that Friday was my 1 year 'birthday' at my workplace and indeed in Toowoomba. I was so lucky and spoilt with simply the most enormous bunch of flowers delivered in the morning (so heavy they literally toppled and smashed my lovely vase at home, sad face) followed by a pissy lunch at one of our favourite restaurants (Gips) with some brilliant company and lots (and lots) of fine champagne (BEST. BRUSCHETTA. EVER). It was certainly an entertaining afternoon back at the office trying to work after that but at least it meant I was sober by the time I drove home!

I can't believe I got so lucky to fall on my feet straight into a fabulous job (literally I think one of the best assistant jobs in Toowoomba!), great house and all the rest. Speaking of the house - I am now a proficient pyromaniac fire builder who is very capably warming our house without setting the whole damn thing on fire - yay me. Can't believe I didn't use the fireplace last year, it is so much warmer than any heater and (fingers crossed) means I won't be getting a power bill the size of the debt of a small country this winter.

I think I can categorically say the Toowoomba Project is a roaring success. If only it wasn't so farking cold.

So winter hit with a vengeance about 2 weeks ago - one minute it was sunny and warm and the next farking freezing. Some days I totally get why bears hibernate in winter. There has been more than one day where my doona screams my name when we are separated - or perhaps I scream it's name...I forget which. It's times like this when I dream of Far North Queensland holidays and when my smartass, Cairns dwelling

 stepsister starts sending me text messages like the one below. She hasn't done one for a while but I know it's a-comin'.

By the way darling stepsis, the threat of Nickelback in your kids Christmas stockings doesn't have an expiry date. Just saying.

Oh some exciting news, at least for me. I have been asked to participate in a Mentoring Programme up here and now some poor unsuspecting sucker lucky young woman will draw the short straw get the benefit of my wisdom and experience (I nearly choked on my coffee just writing that phrase) for the next twelve months as my mentee.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I'm totally looking forward to it, the opportunity to officially screw up someone else being handed to me on a silver platter. I plan to teach her all my tricks as per an excellent mentor should.

So I'm off to the Careflight Gala Ball this weekend, which is pretty cool. It's Venetian Masquerade and I can't wait to get girlied up and masked and to post some pics of the occasion! There is something about wearing a mask, which when coupled with free champagne makes me behave incredibly badly although with my boss at the table I may have to rein it in somewhat.

Quote of the day (yesterday) in caffeine addled state: 'I would go to the opening of an envelope if it involved a pretty dress and a mask'.

My boss told me I'm not normal, which I have decided to take as an extreme compliment.

I think.

Anyhoo, have a wonderful Tuesday all, I personally have downloaded the early Madonna (think pre- Like a Prayer) catalogue and am thoroughly enjoying myself right about now.

Bec xx

When you're too caffeine deprived for coffee...

So today I:

a) Somehow pressed 'snooze' on my alarm from 6am to 7:55am without being remotely conscious of it. Managed to throw myself together in approx. 7.5 minutes (including shower/makeup/hair) - albeit perhaps not my finest effort (sorry all). Meanwhile kidlet was dressed, breakfasted, packed and ready for school, thanks mate. Which then led to...

b) Gettting to work only to miss the coffee van by THIS much. I mean, it was literally driving out the gate as I came tearing in. No amount of frantic hand signalling and pleading eyes gained anything more than Frank cheerfully waving out the window as he zoomed off. Like I'm not funding your retirement plan and putting your kids through uni. Some public service, mate. I would threaten to boycott you out of principle but we all know that's a desperate lie. I have no principles when caffeine is involved, clearly. And then...

c) What do you call it when you're so caffeine deprived you can't even operate the coffee machine at work properly? We have one of those machines that use the pod-dy thingos that are essentially idiot-proof. Or so they say...I think I have just managed to self-create a bigger idiot, as I managed to fark it up three times wasting my precious pods before finally managing to get a sip.

d) Then with cup in hand (but clearly before the caffeine kicked in) I came to write this and was nearly done when somehow I managed to wipe the lot. Of course I didn't save it. What a stupid question.

So is this where I say 'things can only get better' or realise that my doona had better sense than me this morning by holding me captive and is at this moment chuckling to itself saying 'I told you not to get up'?????

And then first song of the day is Metallica's Nothing Else Matters...oh dear God. I be screwed.

Cheers

Bec xx

Happy first work anniversary to me!

I truly have the best boss ever.

I just put these in a vase and they toppled over!

And I'm even more thankful that these will be going home with me in the comfort of my car instead of a public transport spectacle as I'd truly infuriate co-commuters as this bouquet is literally that big, it requires it's own seat.

Bec xx

Second song of the day...

Awesome.

My second favourite F word...black news days and Dexys Midnight Runners.

So yesterday was a terribly 'black' news day. The horrific 'hacking to death' (could there be a more descriptively awful and evocative phrase in the English language?) of British soldier Drummer Rigby in broad daylight whilst the sick perpetrators actually encouraged people to film them is just beyond words.

Follow this with the backlash retaliation by some half-wit extremist groups (read: ignorant fuckers) against Islamic communities in the UK, despite the fact that it turns out that one of the sick fucks involved in this was a convert to sermons conducted by a Sheikh who was actually BANNED by Islam.

I am just sickened and completely without words.

Some wonder why I tend to 'skate' on the lighter side of life, particularly on my blog, tending to ignore some of the more appalling world news events in favour of something entirely self-centred and generally focused on my hair or something of that order.

The main reason is that I have a ridiculously overactive imagination and a very well developed ability to obsess over bad things to the point where I can literally see it in my head, not to mention my nightmares. I will cry over it, rage at it, dwell on it and visualise it until I collapse in a messy heap. I'm not a good horror movie person, let's put it that way.

And this is the worst kind of horror - there is now a little boy in England who will grow up without his daddy simply because his father happened to be leaving his barracks at the most inopportune time while some whacked out homocidal maniacs happened to use him as a poster child for their sick agenda.

It seriously makes me cry for humanity (what humanity?) and for the future of our global society.

See what I mean, this is why I stick to preferred mascara choices, I am sitting here almost in tears of frustration, anger and sorrow for this tragic event and this young man's life cut tragically short. Every time I close my eyes I see that bloodied image of the man holding the meat cleaver and basically PROUD of himself for taking another human being's life.

It makes me want to vomit.

So I was searching for something to lighten my spirits yesterday and there was pretty much nothing. Tragic event after tragic event, something nonsensical about your 11 most hated commuter traits, Ford factories in Australia closing with a couple thousand jobs to go...

Like I said, a black news day. One of the very blackest.

So it was with a bit of a sigh of relief to wake up this morning to find that whilst there is obviously more coverage and detail on recent horrific events, that something similar had not occurred while I was sleeping.

And then to realise today is my 'one year' birthday at my new workplace and I am anticipating a lovely lunch with my boss and a few of my favourite colleagues. I'm also having a great hair day, which changes everything.

And then to 'random shuffle' my ipod to have this catchy oldie pop up as first song of the day:

Come on, you know you're humming along.

Plus next weekend I am going to a black tie masquerade ball which I am seriously looking forward to, nothing like getting costumed up and I have scored myself a seriously cool mask...pics to follow!

And I've acquired some serious fire-building skills in the past few days, thanks to winter suddenly hitting with a vengeance (coupled with the most frightening power bill EVER last winter).

So things are looking up. Fingers crossed for news to follow.

Bec xx

My second favourite F word...typing in fingerless gloves is not funny. Seriously.

Wow I wonder if I remember how to do this?

Hi all, my name is Bec and once upon a time I started a blog which I wrote in religiously for quite a while. I then got distracted by a shiny object or two and my attention wandered...and then wandered back...and then away...and then away...then back...then away...

You get the picture.

I have been feeling super guilty for not updating my blog and also a bit addled, which I think probably is a symptom of not writing enough to 'sort out my shit'!

Anyhoo here I am, welcome back me. I always make a solemn pledge to never, ever, ever wander off again but I won't bother because we all know I'd been lying so hard my nose would grow, and seriously, does anyone ever say 'gee, I wish I had a bigger nose'???? I mean, apart from Michael Jackson that is.

So I can't even remember what I was up to last time I wrote, it was that bloody long ago...something about having a mid life crisis...some old bird jumping in front of me in photos...some other self-obsessed drivel...yada yada...40th birthdays...bad hair days...blah blah blah....more self-obsessed drivel...

So yeah, nothing's changed then. Clearly.

I'd like to say I've been off having a life but that would also be patently untrue. If I'm being blatantly honest, I've discovered a few new TV shows and have been basically glued to my laptop catching up on all episodes of not just the current favourites but others that I hadn't yet seen, like Hart of Dixie, Once Upon a Time, the latest Australian Apprentice and I've just discovered (very belatedly and upon the recommendation of my stepsister who freely admits it makes her feel like a voyeur) Big Love.

Now I know the reality of living with three wives. Poor Bill, I mean really, it's a full-time job just trying to satisfy one wife...these polygamy guys might look like they're having their cake and eating it too but logistically? Not that I would probably mind having three husbands, as long as it didn't mean 3 x picking up dirty socks and 3 x having to find everything because the 'boy look' didn't make it jump instantly into their hands. On second thoughts, I already have one teenager in the house, happy to leave it at just that, thanks!

OK so here's something that's not TOTALLY self-obsessed - my #1 (and only) son has just been given a huge academic award at school and has also been invited to participate in the selection process for an advanced academic programme at his school that basically gets him finishing a year ahead and getting to study university subjects while still in grade 12. I am simply such a proud mum right now that I think I'm gonna burst.

He gets his brains from me, obviously.

Now anyone who knows me and my son knows that E has always been a pretty bright kid with...ahem...shall we say...some issues in the way of applying himself. If I had a dollar for every time I'd hear 'lacks motivation' from his teachers...well let's just say it was like revisiting my own high school career, where I'd only bother trying if I liked the particular subject matter, otherwise...

So it's pretty exciting. My gorgeous little nerd. He's gonna rule the world one day and we'll all be working for him.

And I just realised I managed to make my son's awesome news all about me so clearly I don't lack skill in that area.

We all have our strengths.

So last week it was warm and sunny in lovely Toowoomba and then two days ago I woke up and it was farking freezing. The winter gear has come out to play and I desperately need to organise a load of firewood STAT.

And Mr Cubicle Neighbour (you know who you are), it is way impolite to laugh at someone wearing fingerless gloves while typing. Everyone knows you can't type properly with normal gloves on and YES, IT IS THAT COLD.

I'm really looking forward to the day where I'm forced to bring out the nanna blanket. Or heaven forbid, the earmuffs. Cause he didn't have enough to laugh at before. I should charge him for sitting near me, clearly I'm providing free entertainment at the expense of only, you know, my self esteem.

So next week marks my one year anniversary of departing the anthill known as Brisbane CBD for the mountain town of Toowoomba. I'll have to write a special blog post commemorating my 'anniversary'. Or you know, not.

My boss is marking the occasion by taking me out for lunch. Usually people have to work here 10 years to get a special 'anniversary' lunch so I am wondering whether working with him for one year is the equivalent of working elsewhere in the company for 10 years? Or perhaps he just wants to congratulate himself for putting up with me for 12 whole months. I'm betting on column B here.

So anyhoo, I hope you have enjoyed my first blog post in quite awhile - I have so much in my head that I'd like to write and say so fingers crossed I'll actually get around to it this time!

Bec xx