Easy...

I am poring over my latest Ezibuy catalogue and have noticed some trends

Maxi dresses are definitely IN and I'm thinking of aquiring one this summer. They look nice and cool but I wonder if I am tall enough to pull it off.

The other trend that I always enjoy and am pleased to see is hanging in there is the tunic

I like all of these, plus these 

I found a few cardies that appeal

And these also scream summer to me

 I just now have to decide which will be THE purchase as my tax return will not cover all the pieces I have earmarked in the catalogue (plus some of these items are very similar to clothes I already own)

I love buying clothes, its a weakness of mine and I blame my mother. She also loved clothes and whilst she wasn't a catalogue browser she made nearly all her own clothes and her sewing machine was always running hot.

Tale as old as time...

We thoroughly enjoyed watching Beaty & the Beast show, the music, the costumes and lighting really made for a great show. This is the Broadway version based on the Disney film. Apparently the writers added 15 new songs for this version, adding to the 6 from the film. If you've seen the film you aint seen nothing yet.

We were immensely proud of both the girls. As Hayley has performed in so many shows its easy to become a bit blase about her involvement, she always plays so professionally that we have become used to her high standard.

As for Erin, it is fabulous to see her overcoming her shyness & timidness to perform on stage. I think she would rather not being able to see us watching her, but she is doing really well. As always we have to heap equal amounts of praise on both the girls for their achievements.

After sitting in the crowded orchestra pit for hours Hayley comes out with aches & pains and a crick in her neck. Since she broke her fingers in 2006 she has had ongoing problems especially when she plays for any length of time. And 3 shows in one weekend will do that. A bit of Tiger Balm & Nurofen will get her through the next 6.

Erin is tired and heads off to her Outdoor Education camp this week. She wont have much time to recover from camp before the next weekend of shows will begin. This week I have to get my head around thermals, 0 rated sleeping bags and hiking shoes. The weather forecast for Wed - Fri looks pretty good for them.

It's begun...

Beauty and the Beast has begun its 2011 season in Bacchus Marsh.

This article appeared in the local newspaper.

The rehearsals are done, everything is ready. I think the girls needed something to steady their nerves this morning. The first show is at 1pm today, we are going down for the evening show tonight.

Looking forward to it!

Keep calm...

I see these signs everywhere

Keep Calm and Carry On was a poster produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of World War II, intended to raise the morale of the British public in the event of invasion.

 

Like these some are really clever

I want this as MY sign

This is going to be my mantra from now on

(Good ol internet, this was surprisingly easy to make)

No excuses...

My running had dried up to walking.

I have lots of excuses...cold...rainy...dark...too busy.

Of the 4 kilos I lost, 0.5kg has found me again. When I registered for the next fun run I marked on the calendar the 22nd August as the day I would start training for the event. 9 weeks of training, 9 weeks of the couch to 5k program.

Did you notice that today is the 22nd August?

No excuses not to start today, it was sunny & mild. I finished work early. The mud puddles on the track had dried up. I had no other committments to call me away from starting.

So start I did, I took the first steps on day 1 of the program.

And I'm committed to continue...as long as the weather holds.

Tupperware...

I went to my 37th Tupperware party today. I didn't really need to go, I have a truck load of the stuff but they keep coming up with new things or old things in a new colour and I get sucked into another purchase. And I had 5 bits that need replacing so off I went.
On my way out I said goodbye to Chris and he asked me to get him a new Tupperware container for ... his tobacco. So that is my rationalisation of spending money on more Tupperware, I can off load a daggy container for a new shiny one.
The container the tobacco lived in before was a very dated one that was about 20 years old. It was split and worn out but I was too embarrassed at its shabby state to return it, it is going unceremoniously into the bin. I also store the dog food in a stunning mustard coloured container that in someone elses eyes might be described as retro.

Damn that lifetime guarantee!

Sergeants, nieces, geocaching & painting...

Chris' niece came to visit us for just one day. She is a Sergeant in the Air Force and is in Melbourne doing a course, her home base is in Toowoomba, Qld. She'll be able to catch up with the Melbourne family while she is here for just 2 weeks. The funny thing about Chris' family is that they are all far flung around Australia and see each infrequently but it is always the same, within a minute of any reunion it is as if they see each other all the time. The old stories come out, new stories are begun and embellishments are added.

Thanks for coming to see us.

Clare put us onto geocaching while she was here. Its something she has started to participate in and it seems to be a worldwide game that is right up our alley.

Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online.

Clare found that there is a cache just a few steps from our door so we went out at 1030pm with torches and found our first hidden treasure. It was fun to find the cache, sign it and leave it there for others to find. As soon as Chris can work out the app for his phone I'm sure we will be on the hunt for others.

(check out the link for all the info)

I'm tired today, having been painting all day at the theatre (enchanted objects are all now complete, just in time as this weekend is the last for rehearsing, next weekend the show begins for real!)
I also found the shoe paint for the dancing shoes after travelling to several shopping centres to get the right thing. The black shoes are now 'dark camel' as requested. And let me tell you shoe paint smells like something dead in a can. But it sticks like shite to a blanket, so will last the distance.

Fortuitously I made a big pot of  pea soup to have tonight, an easy dinner, a warm bath and an early night will make us all feel better.

M is also for...

mud.

Which I found in my washing machine.

I knew Cal's work clothes were filthy when I threw them in the machine but I was a bit shocked to see mud in the front loader seal when it was done.

I don't want the machine to go on strike, I already have the vacuum cleaner in my handy hubby's workshop & the little dust buster isn't quite doing the job for me. He is waiting for the 'brushes' to come from the UK, I hope they can sort out those riots so I can get my part.

It's all about me don't you know.

M is for...

many things but today it is for....molar.

 Hayley is off to a themed 21st party, come as something beginning with the letter M (Melanie's party)

She had worked some magic with some polystyrene, material and stuffing.

It even came with a filling

And was modelled on this acrylic tooth made in the clinic (looks too real for me)

 Depending on the success of her costume tonight she might wear it in the upcoming Djerriwarrh festival as she has ended up on the organising committee. I think it looks like a tooth but I know what its meant to be.

I had a lovely day yesterday, in my tunic,

We ended up (window) shopping in Armadale & Fitzroy in lots of groovy, expensive places and had a celebrety sighting of Josh & Jenna off  'The Block'. Ness got some bathers for her soon to be trip to Hayman Island. I ended up with a light dress for when I'm lazing about on my summer holiday. I had to put it at the very back of the cupboard for today was quite chilly.

It was a cold start but I rugged up & went down to the theatre to do some more painting. Only 2 weeks til curtains up & still a lot of work to do. Erin was pleased to get into one of her costumes today and it sounded really good while I was painting enchanted objects.

Number one daughter...

has had another birthday.

At 23 she has become a lovely young woman. Quirky, full of ideas, crafty and just plain lovely.

She wanted a fish eye lens for her camera and a new bike

just imagine this in bright red

Hayley will be be pedalling all over the place

I'm vain...

and a bit unorganised.

Our wacky winter warm spell has finished & we are back to regular winter programming - cold & wet. My Friday fashion today was comprised of my new favourite purple  Metallicus dress which is nice & light. While I was out at Big Sisters today I had to borrow a cardi because after 3 warm days I forgot how to dress for proper Melbourne weather.

I wore the same dress last night with a t shirt when I went into the city for an education forum. I had to go straight into St V's from work and had packed my bag the night before. I even remembered to put in some jewellery & deodorant.

What I had forgotten was to shave my legs in the morning and as I was going to wear short leggings this was going to be a problem.

Because I am vain.

Because it has been cold & I haven't needed to show my legs.

Because I didn't want to show my hairy legs...to people I had never met before and would never see again.

By the end of my working day all the patients had gone and I had a bit of time, I went on the hunt for a disposable razor. Unfortunately I found one in the cannulation trolley. Pity the poor patient who might need a shave from me as the quick job I did on my lower legs was appalling. I was left bleeding, stinging & almost hair free. The throbbing afterwards lasted for ages and was pretty intense, like a burn.

Not one person  noticed.

The forum was quite interesting and focused on self care...looking after ourselves so we can continue to care for others.

Next time I'll take that on board.