The End of Blogtoberfest

October is over and thus brings the end of Blogtoberfest.

I tried my best but didn't quite make it. I only skipped a few days and I did blog more during October than I normally do so I would call it a success!

Happy 3 Months!

Aden is 3 months old today!!

Happy 3 moth birthday gorgeous little man!!

One Word...

Pinched from AJ's blog (as seen on Xena's blog)

Feel free to do it if the mood takes you-

1. Where is your mobile phone? Bag

2. Your hair? Clean

3. Your mother? Wonderful

4. Your father? Funny

5. Your favourite food? Chocolate

6. Your dream last night? Strange

7. Your favourite drink? Sarsparilla

8. Your dream/goal? Unknown

9. What room are you in? Lounge

10. Your hobby? Dancing

11. Your fear? Lots

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Happy

13. Where were you last night? Home

14. Something that you aren’t? Sleeping

15. Muffins? Choc-chip

16. Wish list item? Blender

17. Where did you grow up? Palmwoods

18. Last thing you did? Ate

19. What are you wearing? PJ's

20. Your TV? Big

21. Your pet? None :(

22. Friends? Great

23. Your life? Mixed-up

24. Your mood? Sleepy

25. Missing someone? Family

26. Vehicle? New!!

27. Something you’re not wearing? Shoes

28. Your favorite store? Retro'specd

29. Your favorite color? Red

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? Tuesday

32. Your best friend? J

33. One place that I go to over and over? Work

34. One person who emails me regularly? Work

35. Favorite place to eat? Cicciolinas

Even more fascinating....

Over the past few years I have attended some sort of racing event every year which of course means that I need a new outfit and of course a new fascinator.

I recently posted this years efforts and it got me thinking...

Here are the previous years efforts...including some of me actually wearing them! (the photos are not the best)

The simple things...

We are very lucky to live in a country where we are free to enjoy the simple things. Having brunch with friends is one of those things.

A gorgeous day near the beach and a good catch up with the girlies! What a perfect day! :)

What a difficult job....

What a hard job I have. Today I had to go into the city and sample food for two hours!! I tell ya, the sacrifices I make for my career!! :)

Really, it was to sample to food for our up coming work event. There was supposed to be three of us but it ended up being only me and Gwenny...omg there was so much food!! And it was all delicious!

It was so good that I even ate prawns and salmon. And for those who know how much I hate seafood, that is a big deal for me but wow it was all fantastic...especially the chocolate cup with hazelnut praline which was mind blowing!!!!

After the crazy....

After my rant from yesteday I think I should take a deep breath, stay calm and just post some photos...

Nick, Benny, Chris, Steve, J and Fletch

Chris & Steve under my parasol.

Nic...sitting pretty

Nic & Fletch

Me & Harriott

The shape we're in...

I came across this afticle on ninemsn a few days ago...

The shape we're in
Janice Turner

Thirty years ago, Susie Orbach identified fat as a feminist issue and went on to become the world’s most famous psychotherapist when she treated Diana, Princess of Wales. Today, as she tells Janice Turner, "body distress" is no longer an illness suffered by the few, but a Western epidemic.

Such was the revolutionary vigour of Fat Is A Feminist Issue when it was first published in 1978 that, for a moment, the screwed-up relationship between women and food looked like it could be resolved. In Susie Orbach’s urgent, crusading prose, all was illuminated: diets don’t work because they lead only to bingeing; we eat compulsively to try to soothe inner hurts; or we get fat as a subconscious rebellion, to opt out of how society insists we look and behave.

It became an instant classic, a student bookshelf staple, and Susie’s theories entered the mainstream in a thousand self-help bibles. Yet today, women and food are more embattled than ever.

Obesity and food disorders – which stem, Susie believes, from one root cause, the perversion of our natural appetites – are epidemic, while female body-loathing now begins in primary school, extending even into the retirement home. “I did not expect to be still writing about this three decades on,” Susie, 62, says.


This was the comment that I left below that article on ninemsn...

I can’t help but wonder what role the media plays in all of this!?! We get images of these "perfect" skinny women (Photoshopped within an inch of their life!) shoved down our throats at every turn. Billboards, magazines and every ad you can think of. No wonder our perception the female body shape is so screwed up. And there are so many mixed messages. We get photos of these skinny unrealistic models beside articles that say "your shape is perfect, be yourself and curves are back! (I'm not sure where they went in the first place)" and then turn around and there are 200 recipes for that "yummy" choc cake or "to-die-for" dessert. Even now on this page, right beside an article on how preoccupied we are and how screwed up our relationship is with food and our bodies and there are 7+ links to recipes, a photo gallery of Barbie (an unrealistic role model if there ever was) and an advertisement proclaiming "dieting" tips.

As I said before, it's no wonder we are all so screwed up!!!!

Fascinating!

It's Spring Racing Season again!!
My favourite part...dressing up for the races! Every year I make a new fascinator to go with my outfit.This year I built my outfit around a Route 66 skirt I bought while in Melbourne in April. I originally had in mind black, white and pink but I couldn’t find the right shade of pink and it slowly evolved into the black, white and blue creation that I am wearing in the photos. (See previous posts)

Here is this years effort...

It was surprisingly hard to properly photograph this fascinator. The photos didn’t turn out too bad though

And they're off and racing....

We spent the day at the races yesterday. It was Caulfield Cup Day and a group of us went to Randwick Race Course. It ended up being a fun day. We set off in stlye, being picked up in a limo.

 The boys in the limo: Fletch, J & Mr Norman

The girls in the limo: Me & Harriott

As everyone knows the races are just an excuse to get frocked up, stand in the sun all day and drink too much. Throw in some gambling and some sweaty smelly animals (I mean the horses!) and that pretty much sums it up!

The best part of the day however, is the socialising. It is a great way for the group to get together and have some fun.

Me & J

Me & Harriott (after a few glasses of champers!!)

Sexy Ladies: Harriott, Nic & Me

J & Fletch

Happy Birthday AJ!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to darling sister AJ!!

Hope you have a great day!

I think Aden might be a bit young for bringing you breakfast in bed but Hubby should have stepped up to the mark...!!!

Here she is with our niece Annaleisa who is only a few days old in this photo.

Happy Birthday Ezza!!

Happy Birthday Ezza!!

Hope you have an awesome day!!!

And so I return...

Returning from holidays is always disappointing. The days have gone by much too quickly and now it feels as though there was no holiday at all and those relaxing fun days are a distant memory.

I have only been back in Sydney (and back at work) one day and already I am yearning to return to Queensland and those lovely, unstructured, relaxing days where the biggest decsion to make is "will Ihave breakfast, brunch or skip straight over to lunch...?"

I guess it makes us appreciate the days that we do have away from work and the daily grind....I just wish they lasted a little longer!

The depressing sight that greeted me this morning!

Bye bye baby!

Very sad today. Had to say goodbye to AJ and Aden.

It was so great getting to spend time with my little man even if it was only for a few days. I Cna't wait until Christmas when I'll get to see them more.

Thanks AJ & Az for a great couple of days. I can't wait to live that bit closer so I can see you all more often!!

Aunty Cee babysits!

I got to baby sit Aden today. AJ had a dentist appointment so I was left in charge of the baby all on my own!

I was a bit apprehensive when she first asked me a few weeks ago but it went just fine. Earlier that morning before AJ left for her appointment I also gave Aden a bath (after he made a mess all over himself and Mummy!!) That was the most daunting thing. I kept getting scared he was going to slip out of my hands!

We had a play, a nappy change, lots of cuddles and a feed. It all went really well (I think). We both survived in any case!

Perhaps Aunty Cee should have brushed her hair!!

Little man starts to get sleepy after a big feed.

Beautiful Baby Day

Today was my first full day with  my beautiful little nephew!! Aden is just the cutest baby ever! He's very alert and laughs a lot!. He was a bit unsure of me when we first met but as soon as I took off my sunglasses he was all smiles and had no problems giving as many cuddles as I wanted!!

The best kind of wake up call...!

(Yes I have just woken up and still in my PJ's)

Making faces with Aunty Cee

Playing with Mummy

Mummy making Aden look silly.

Not happy Mummy!!!!

All tuckered out after a big afternoon at the shops!

How lovely to meet you...

I met my darling gorgoues nephew today for the first time.

I vistied AJ while she had her big baby belly but I haven't been back up to see them since Aden made his grand entrance into the world.

He is just the cutest little baby ever!!!

Shoptober!

Today was shopping day. It has been a while since I have been to the shops and just splurged.

Admittedly it wasn't splurging on myself. Most of the stuff I bought was gifts, mainly for my neice and nephew! Because Aden is still only a bubba it was kind of difficult to buy stuff for him but because Annaleisa is that bit older, it was much easier to find things for her. Actually the most difficult part was stopping myself buying things!!

I did also buy a few things for myself which was kind of nicew too. Just a few summer tops and some books but it was still nice to treat myself a little bit.

This is only some of the things I bought on my spree!!

Why does sleep elude me...???

as in Nocturnal....as in I can't sleep!!!

i have never been a very good sleeper but tonight I just cannot go to sleep. Lying in bed in the dark for 2hours has failed to induce even the smallest chance of drifting off.

Don't know what is going on.!!

Aaahh..to sleep for years and then be woken by a handsome prince....what bliss!

Not quite the same as finally drifting into an unfitful sleep for 2 hours to then be woken by a half asleep J rolling over and hitting me in the face (trying to turn off the alarm!)

Some how those two senarios don't quite compare!

(I do have to put in a little foor note here otherwise I will never hear the end of it...AJ I realise you are probably on less sleep than me having a 2 month old to deal with!)

MWAH! xxoo

Final Countdown...

My trip up north is only days away! In fact...only 3 days away!!!

I can't wait to see my gorgeous little nephew and of course my darling big sister!!

Counting down....!!!!

Blocktober...

Today's Blogtoberfest entry is called Blocktober, as in quilting blocks.

Unfortunately, I don't quilt myself. Considering my sewing machine has been in a entirely different state for the past 18 months, I barely sew let alone quilt (I hope to change this when I get my hands back on my sewing machine {watch this space}). My darling sister AJ, however, does quilt and makes beautiful quilts that more often than not she gives away as gifts.

I am the proud owner of her very first quilting project and I treasure it and give it the love it deserves.

AJ recently made a quilt that was commissioned by a friend of mine. It was requested that the commissioned quilt have stars so I did a quick search to see what "starry" quilts I could find. While on my search I came across this quilt called Cosmosdust. I loved it straight away.

What I didn't realise was that this particular quilt will be quite difficult to put together!! Oops sorry AJ!!

Being the darling sister that she is though, she has said that she will make this quilt for me (although I want a white background instead of the dark blue) however I don't think it will be any time soon as she now has my gorgeous little nephew to handle so the quilt might be a while off yet.

It's OK...i can be patient!

Victory!

Well done to the Melbourne Storm!! Victory in the Grand Final. It made me very happy that Parramatta and their "Jarryd Hayne is the best player ever" arrogance got beaten!

(Day 4 of Blogtoberfest - Jocktober!)

Happy Birthday Mama!!

Today is the birthday of my gorgeous and wonderful mum!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!!!

What are we saving the daylight from...?

Daylight Savings!!! Who needs it!! Maybe it comes from growing up in Queensland but I really don't like daylight savings. It makes little to no sense and is frankly a pain in the arse! Tonight we set our clocks forward and are forced to readjust our body clocks! Joy!

(This happily also fits in with Blogtoberfest Day 3 - Clocktober!)

Blogtoberfest!!!

It's official! I'm in!! Blogtoberfest here we come!!

I started a few days late but hopefully I'll be able to keep up from here on in!

Thanks to the lovely badskirt for the Blogtoberfest Ideas Hub; sharing some fantastic ideas; I should be able to come up with something intersting!
I'll do a quick catch up of the days I have missed so far...

1 - Knocktober (meet & greet...as in Knock Knock)
A few details about me....

Name: Cee
Sex: Female
Born: Beautiful QLD
Currently residing in: Big bad Sydney
Partner: The darling J
Interesting yet true fact: I have moved 10 times in 15 years
Slightly less intersting  yet still true fact: I am the youngest of 4 children

2 - Rocktober (music)
I like to think of my music tastes as wonderfully eclectic!
Currently listening to:If I Were A Boy - Beyonce

Still to come...
3 - Clocktober (clocks)
4 - Woktober (stirfries)
5 - Flocktober (birds)
6 - Frocktober (dresses)
7 - Blocktober (quilt blocks)
8 - Croctober (crocodiles)
9 - Stocktober (soup)
10 - Walktober (walking)
11 - Rocktober (stones)
12 - Chalktober (chalk)
13 - Socktober (socks)
14 - Bachtober (classical music)
15 - Spocktober (space themes)
16 - Mocktober (mocktails)
17 - Docktober (boats)
18 - Stalkober (veggies and flowers)
19 - Locktober (hairstyles)
20 - Cocktober (roosters)
21 - Crocktober (slow cooking)
22 - Choctober (anything chocolate)
23 - Bocktober (beer)
24 - Jacquestober (fish)
25 - Jocktober (sports)
26 - Barracktober (politics)\
More to come...

Flashback Friday

Another Friday had rolled around and I have dug back into my photo archives. This photo is from senior year at high school....actually it is from Schoolies Week i.e. the week we spent on Great Keppel Island!!

Chris (Bowza), Lauren (Lozza), Me and Sam(Samboss)

It was such a fun week. Some things have (mercifully) been blocked from my memory but it was a really great week.

It's weird looking back through all my old photos. That is the beauty of Flashback Friday. It makes us remember the times that have passed and give us the chance to look back and smile...or cringe as I did when I saw myself in that photo!

I see red!

If you didn't see it on the news, NSW is experiencing a major dust storm at the moment. It is the first one to ever hit a major Australian city.

It was very creepy to wake up to a brilliant orange/red sky. The colour is due to the red dust being blown in from the west/central NSW. It goes all the way from Wooloongong to Newcastle and is being reported to hit parts of South East Queensland!

Photos from ninemsn.com.au

Some of Sydney's most famous landmarks are blotted out by the dust.

Luckily we got to do the bridge run before this storm hit or it would have made things very difficult!

Run...run...as fast as you can!

I did it!! I finished the Sydney Monring Hearld body+soul Bridge Run on Sunday. It was 9 kms and we (me and J) finished it in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

I was really worried that I wouldn't complete it in time but I did and am very very proud of myself.

For some people 9kms might not be a very big deal (there were some crazy people who did the Marathon - 42kms!) but for me it was a pretty big deal!

It is all because of Harriott that I even considered it in the first place. Running really isn't my thing but I am glad I did it.

The Gang

There were so many people there on the day! It was quite an impressive sight!

Sydney Harbour and all the people.

It was a pretty warm day and the humidity got to about 66%!

 

                                       BEFORE

                                         DURING

 AFTER

It turned out to not be as bad as I thought but I probably wouldn't do it again in a hurry!!!

I'll guess I will always have my very special medal to commemmorate what I achieved!!