Missing the Mundane

Well haven’t I been a lazy blogger of late? Time, friends and the seemingly never ending job hunt has had me rather pre-occupied. Temping has kept the money flowing in; however I’m struggling with the absence of a regular routine. You know what it’s like – you get up, you have your shower and drive/catch the bus to work. Your morning coffee wakes you up before you start your working day. Lunch is over and before you know it it’s 4pm and you’re at the biscuit tin ready for your sugar fix. After work you hit the gym and work out for about an hour or so before heading home to cook dinner, shower and catch your favourite TV program before falling into bed only to repeat the whole process the following day. This all sounds very practical and boring, yet I find it to be somewhat comforting – knowing that you have a desk that belongs to you, along with your mug, mousepad and photos. You have a purpose for getting up every day and feel as though you are contributing to the working world in some way. I can hear you all saying ‘yeah right’ – what you would give for a day or even a week off here and there. Of course it’s terrific for a couple of days, but try it when you don’t get paid for a couple of weeks. The only way I can justify having this time off is by filling every hour with some sort of task – I think that ornament requires dusting again, doesn’t that shirt need dry-cleaning? Oooh, I’m sure I need to get some more fruit/veges/food or something from the shops.

If I had the money I could easily become a lady of leisure, however when the bills need to be paid and you find yourself relying on your significant other for cash it’s not much fun at all! So if you catch yourself thinking how much you dislike your job for the hundredth time today, take a moment to reflect on your situation and realise how lucky you are to actually have a job to whinge about!

AVD
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PS – Anyone out there need a confident, capable Personal Assistant? ;-)

Isn't Life Peachy?

After a quick conversation with my Mum this morning I have set myself a new challenge. She was stuck in traffic and was forced to listen to morning radio - apparently there is a test that ordinary people in the USA (is there such a thing?) are undertaking in the hope of a brighter outlook on life. A number of people volunteered to remain positive for a total of twenty-one days, foregoing any pessimism.

This may appear effortless for some, however when you’re down in the dumps for some reason or other it can be extremely difficult to pull yourself up. For women it can be especially rigorous considering we have a monthly onslaught of bent up hormones raging through our system. I can’t speak for other girls, but during this trailing interval I often experience up to four or five emotions per hour, I mean day! Ah hem… Trying to persist with happy thoughts and positive energy at this time might be asking a little too much. Although in saying this, I am not deterred!

Starting from today I have decided to exude happiness and optimism. The people I encounter throughout my journey will have no choice but to feel as though I am just a pleasure to be around! Do you have friends such as this? I know I do and I’m always left feeling a little lighter (so to speak) after hanging out with them. I have derived great expectations for my future from these people and a new appreciation of life.

I would love to have this affect on a friend, or even a stranger for that matter. I have met people in the past that have been so energetic and happy to be alive - to be honest I found it to be a little contagious. Don’t you find that your mood can differ depending on the people you surround yourself with? If you have someone whinging in your ear for half an hour about how bad their life is, you walk away feeling exhausted and negative about things in general. I wanna be that friend that fires you up and inspires you to go out there and live life! Maybe I should consider motivational speaking?

So that is my new challenge! Note to all my friends out there, if you find me being a little unruly and falling off the happiness wagon, make sure you remind me that cynicism is so not hot right now…

AVD
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PS Have you got your rose-coloured glasses on today? Hmm?

A Hairy Situation

I have been toying with the idea of cutting my long hair into a stylish bob (think Victoria Beckham) for some time now. I get so bored with my hair and am constantly trying to think of innovative ways to regenerate my look. I could go blonde and dye my eyebrows lighter, I could cut it all off or I could even do both! However every time I kiss my hairdresser goodbye, I am sporting the same longhaired brunette mane I kissed her hello with!

After a few drinks with the girls last week I decided that I am going to go quite a few shades lighter (again, Victoria B style) and think about dying the brows for now (admittedly I’m a little worried about the re-growth that may occur – not a good look on your head, let alone your face).

I would love to hear some stories on how you have experimented with your hair. How did it look? Were you happy with the outcome? Any pics?

I am booked in to see my hairdresser this weekend – I’ll keep you posted on whether or not the brunette chicken crossed the road to discover the lighter side of life…

AVD
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Weary Bones

Picture it – Sydney…this morning…26 year-old girl (moi) struggling to drag herself out of bed due to unreal lack of sleep. Next to her lies the body of a spectacularly fit young man (a.k.a her husband). However all is not as it may appear…

As I roll over I’m told, “Don’t touch me – move your arm, ooowww!” Ironically enough, he was trying to get fit at the gym yesterday and put his back out in the process. Now I’m not just talking about a little pain here, the poor guy was in absolute agony all night.

Let’s digress and go back to Monday evening for a minute. I’m boxing for the very first time with my trainer at the gym (loving every second mind you). I finished up and skipped out of the gym feeling light as a feather. Later that night I was washing my face when suddenly I realised I had lost total control of my baby fingers! What the? Long story short I am still struggling to type and my wrists are killing me!

Why do we persist on putting our bodies through such stress and physical exhaustion? There’s a difference between feeling a little discomfort from a great workout and not being able to move due to pangs of excruciating pain! I put my minor injuries down to over-training and exercising way too hard - not the fact that I am unfit in any way, shape or form. (I might also add that I have a little pair of wrists and my fingers are quite fragile).

I could list a number of reasons why my wrists are so weak, being typing at a desk every day, not paying enough attention to them when stretching or exercising etc. As for the pre-mentioned back pain, I would say that is due to a lack of stretching and a re-occurring injury from playing football.

Then again, maybe we’re just getting old…

AVD
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PS Speaking of getting older, our beautiful little Lulu turns 1 today! (10.5 in dog years). Happy Birthday gorgeous girl!!!

Lackluster Threads

I was shopping with my Mum last night, looking for a new outfit that would be suitable for a job interview. I really didn’t think it would pose to be much of a problem – I had some cash left over from a few gift vouchers and was ready to spend!

We walked from store to store in search of the perfect ensemble, only to be met with boring corporate drapery! I caught myself thinking of what it would be like to go to work dressed in characterless suits every day, looking frighteningly similar to the girl sitting next to you (see right for shocking example). I decided then and there that I would not be one of these stereotyped women trudging into work for yet another monotonous weekday.

Cue my entrance into Cue! I adore their clothing right now – they have beautiful suits with a bit of personality. You don’t have to give up your sense of style to work in an office these days ladies!

Next time you go to grab that (shapeless, black) suit jacket from your wardrobe, opt for something a little more chic from Cue.

AVD
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Front Row

‘People want to read about fashion and controversy and gossip. If Vogue can’t give it to them, who can?’ – ANNA WINTOUR The New York Times, October 21, 1988

Spoken like a true ice queen! Anna Wintour is the unforgettable, infamous, uncompromising Editor in Chief at Vogue magazine. Her “gleefully vicious” biography Front Row has been written by bestselling author of Just Desserts, Jerry Oppenheimer.

After watching the The Devil Wears Prada, I could not go past the opportunity to have a piece of the real thing! I bought this book in my lunch break and had significant difficulty putting it down to come back to work. I’m only halfway through the second chapter and I’m already hooked. The 'cool life and hot times' of Anna Wintour is definitely one for the gossip mongers!

AVD

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Barbie Facts

Being the only girl in my family along with being born last, gave way for me to receive just about every doll any little princess could wish for. The benefits were endless, however one perk that sticks in my mind the most is the amount of Barbie dolls I got to own. A whole drawer was stuffed full of the iconic brand figurines, along with a hundred different outfits, accessories, shoes and who could forget the Cadillac? These days Barbie gets around in a cool Barbie Beach Glam Cruiser… she’s moving up in the world I see. Barbie is also looking hotter than ever – see right for some serious before and after plastic surgery pics!

I still haven’t moved away from my fixation on the Barbie doll (well my Mother doesn’t think so anyway). She bought me ‘The Wizard of Oz Barbie Collection’ for my 21st birthday. For those of you out there snickering at your computer screen right now, rest assured those little plastic toys will be worth something one day. I have Dorothy, The Cowardly Lion, Tinman, The Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda the Good Witch, and Scarecrow. The only dolls I’m missing are the Munchkins – ‘Kelly dolls and Tommy doll make their debut as the unforgettable Wizard of Oz movie characters…’ How wonderful!
Do you know how many different Barbie dolls are available to the young ladies of today? In the 2007 BarbieCollector range alone, there are thirty-one new dolls! (My favourite being ‘Red Hot Reviews Barbie Doll’). There is even a Vintage Collection - who keeps coming up with these crazy doll ideas? You might have seen the email circulating at the moment advertising dolls such as ‘Bankstown Barbie’ or ‘Eastern Suburbs Barbie’, loaded with coordinating accessories such as a trailer or BMW. You may laugh, but one day just one day, those big wigs over at Mattel may just surprise us…

AVD
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Shoe Fetish

OK, I admit I have a problem. Although I really don’t see how I’m that irregular from other women. I love shoes – there, I said it – I LOVE SHOES!

Short ones, tall ones, high heels, low heels, flats, sandals, ankle boots, knee-high boots, peep-toes, round toes, wedges, flip-flops – hell, I’d find an ugh boot irresistible! Lord help me if I actually had enough cash to buy a pair or ten of Manolo Blahniks!

I do have a soft spot for Nine West at the moment. Their shoes just exude style – take for instance these gorgeous little peep-toes I purchased just the other day. Aren’t they divine? (Matching bag not included, however couldn’t leave the store without it). Oh, and who could forget my boots? Ohhhh, my boots… I lay-byed these sexy little numbers just yesterday – could you resist with a name like Despina? I bought my last pair of knee-highs at NW about three or four years ago, so I’m confident I won’t have to purchase another pair for a while. That’s a rarity in this day and age – my shoes are lucky to last five minutes on the street before they have to go in for repairs.

I also have my eye on a pair of ankle boots from RMK - those babies are all the rage this season and are an absolute necessity for any self professing fashionista!

Would love to hear about your shoe/clothes/accessories fetish – I’m not the only one out there surely?

AVD
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Brotherly Love

Have you ever noticed that you can be floating along through life without a care in the world, when all of a sudden God bestows upon you and delivers an almighty whack from out of nowhere? I often question what on earth I must have done in a past life to merit some of the shortcomings I have received in this one. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate everything I have and know that I am truly blessed when it comes to my family and friends.

I can somewhat relate to the old adage 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger'. My family has been through some major hardship, losing my brother at the tender age of 23 (for the purpose of this post we shall call him brother number two). You may gasp and think how terrible, however if it weren't for him my family wouldn't be as close as they are today. Sometimes it takes such a life changing event for you to wake up and realise what you've got. I often take a moment to just stare at my nieces or nephew and be thankful for them - for how precious they are and how they make my day so much brighter (see picture above for instant smile material).

It broke my heart to know that brother number two had passed when we had just started to become friends (in place of fist-fighting siblings). I received a phone call from brother number one last night, telling me how great he thought my blog was. Rewind six or seven years ago and I'd be pressed to tell you if he was even in the country! We now talk on a regular basis and are closer than we've ever been before. It's taken us a while to get to this stage, but I love having him around and just being able to talk about 'stuff'. Everybody needs someone like that in their life.

God can deal you some extraordinary cards occasionally, leaving you flabbergasted without knowing which way to turn. My advice is to pick yourself up, learn from it and move on. Life will go on with or without you, so you may as well enjoy it! I know it's easier said than done, but try to see things from a different perspective - appreciate the people you love, stop to smell the flowers, call your nan or pop (or your sibling), give your dog a hug, sing in the shower, tell your partner you love them and never, ever take anyone for granted. Just try it - the strength and satisfaction you'll gain from doing so is nothing short of a godsend. ;-)

AVD
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Men & Women Behaving Badly

I must say that I have been extremely fortunate in finding a man that treats me well, loves me without question and supports me in every way. However not every girl has been so lucky in love – or more to the point not every girl is aware of her misfortune.

When did women (and some men) become so naïve? I will admit that I have grown up with a wonderful mother who has taught me some invaluable lessons in love and life. It may also be the fact that it is far easier to see flaws in other people’s relationships than it is your own.

I still find it difficult to understand how some men and women can be so simple! Their perception of their partner is so unrealistic to the point it’s just plain embarrassing. How can you be with someone for so long and not even suspect his or her wrong doings?
Furthermore, how can you continue to be with someone knowing of his or her wrong doings? But that’s a whole other blog…

I know of men that constantly cheat on their wives or girlfriends and it leaves me with a sense of disappointment and pain for those women. As Gabrielle and the girls were discussing in Desperate Housewives this week, I would like to pose the question - would you let your friend know if their spouse was being unfaithful? This is a tricky one, as you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t! My first instinct would be to not get involved. However if this were a very close friend, they would (without doubt) turn around and attack you for not telling them sooner. I’m still convinced it’s better to stay right out of that ugly little picture, especially if the couple in question is married. I mean think about it – how would you like to be living in marital bliss one day, only to be thrown into pandemonium by your best friend informing you of your partner’s extra curricular activities the next?

Like a lot of things in life, relationships are not always perfect. There are times when you fight and you feel like killing each other (ok, well maybe that’s taking it a bit far). My point is that you and your partner are the only ones that can decide on your future. Nobody else has the right to do that for you and if they try to justify their actions by using the excuse “I was just doing it for your own good, I thought you’d want to know” feel free to punch them square in the face (joking, but not really).

I believe that if you are that close to your partner and you trust each other with everything you have, there is no need to rely on others to keep you from feeling insecure. A little jealousy and emotion is healthy for a working couple, yet if you’re tearing your hair out wondering when your significant other will be home, it may be wise to confront them before your friends get to you first…

AVD

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Stranded Without a Tan

I don’t know what Guy Sebastian is on about, but I certainly do NOT share his love affair with elevators. Perhaps my dislike for them could be due to the fact that I was stuck in one for over half an hour last night! Why is it always on the way home from work and never on the way to work? Considering I’m on the 24th floor I have no choice but to take the lift (unless of course you want to find me passed out in the stairwell somewhere between Level 10 and 15).

Obviously I had plenty of time to think about being trapped inside this small box. Some thoughts that promptly came to mind:

• Thank GOD it’s only me in here!
• Why couldn’t I be stuck in here with some hot guy?
• Well it’s not like I could do anything anyway…
• Hmmm… it’d be great if my man was in here… he he
• I wonder how long I’ll be in here for?
• I can’t believe it – the one day I didn’t bring my book, that’d be right.
• Oh crap! I have a spray tan tonight – I better make it in time or someone’s gonna get hurt…
• I’m bored – who can I call?
• “Lady, how much longer will they be?”
• Okay, I’m getting really frustrated now!
• Hmmm…there’s no music in here.
• Do I have enough water just in case?
• Why couldn’t I get stuck in one of the new elevators? This one smells…
• I wish there was someone else in here to talk to.
• GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!
• Okay, I have 10 minutes left before I’m not going to make my appointment
• 5…
• 4…
• 3…
• I’m MOVING!!!
  
  AVD
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  PS Just in case you were worried, I did make it to my tanning session. Turned out the automated door on the booth was misbehaving, however the owner assured me it was fine and called out "if you get stuck in there, just push the door open…"

It’s a Dog’s Life

Yesterday afternoon I was hurrying to make my wax appointment (FYI if you’re after an incredible waxing experience visit http://lessmooth.com) when all of a sudden a car came to a screeching halt on the main road. I quickly looked over just in time to see a lunch break runner get skimmed by the bonnet and roll onto the footpath. Passers by stopped to make sure he was ok; at this point he rose to his feet and proceeded to apologise to the driver! Excuse me?

Around Christmas time last year, our precious little Lulu was struck down in a horrifying hit and run incident. The beastly (poor excuse for a man) didn’t even pause to hit the breaks! Fortunately my husband and I were witness to such brutality. As I ran over to the dog, my man hurled himself into his “racing car” and sped off after the attacker. Managing to track the speeding driver down, hubby continued to escort him back to the scene of the crime. After exchanging a few heated words, we came to an agreement - the driver would pay for any extensive injuries that Lulu had endured.

After a trip to the specialist and over three thousand dollars later, I am pleased to report that Lulu is alive and well (sporting a slight limp, but alive nonetheless). Upon calling the driver we were astonished to find that our little pup had caused some minor damage to the front of his car. You can imagine our anguish and heartache after hearing such bad news. Of course we asked how his car was and if there was anything we could do. He went on to tell us that his pride and joy was at the mechanic being worked on. How could we be so cold and insensitive as to expect him to worry about our dog when his car was in such bad condition?

Again, we came to an arrangement – only this time we would pay for our baby and he would pay for his. Tremendous, just tremendous…

AVD
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Keep The Colour - Lose The Spots!

Over the weekend I picked up a whole lot of photos that my Mum had put in to be developed. As usual, the shop assistant wanted to make sure the photos belonged to me and I wasn’t just some random person stealing other people’s memories. He pulled a photo out of a pack and I proceeded to tell him, that no, these were not my photos and that he had better check again. As he was frantically looking under the counter I took another look at the photo. Staring in disbelief I realised that the girl lying half naked on a sunbed was in fact, me! I looked for a long time and thought back to when it was taken. It must have been years ago – I was lying in the sun with probably little or no sunscreen covering my bronzed body. Ah, those were the days. Fast-forward to present day and you wouldn’t catch me outdoors without 30+ smothered all over!

If you were to check in my bathroom cabinet you would find amongst all the make-up, skin care and moisterisers, a vast array of fake tanning lotions. Beside these, you will see about five or six different brands of sunscreen. Check up top behind my mirror and yep, you guessed it – more sun care - this time for my face. I prefer Megan Gale’s Invisible Zinc as it is a broad-spectrum sunscreen with very high protection against UVA & UVB rays, is mineral oil free and non-greasy.

My skin is prone to being somewhat stubborn and very Australian. I know that if I do not cover up I will gain a beautiful tan, along with some gorgeous freckles and if I’m lucky some super premature wrinkles. Later on I’m sure I’d have a few skin spots and perhaps cancers to go with my aging skin – keeping all of this in mind, why on earth would you want to expose your irreplaceable limbs to the harsh Aussie sun?! After giving up baking my skin to the point where it’s crispier than a Macca’s french fry, my freckles have already faded, my wrinkles are being kept at bay (for the time being) and my pale skin is nothing that a quick spray tan can’t fix!

AVD

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Money, Money, Money, Muuney, Maahhnney

After flicking through the latest New Woman magazine in my lunch break, I was disturbed to read of a recent study claiming that ‘more than 500 Australian women in their twenties found they would rather eat chocolate in a Holden than drink champagne in a limo’. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a piece of Cadbury’s in front of the tele on occasion (I am a woman after all) and I love riding in my husband’s Holden SS Ute (really, honey, I do). However I would like to know exactly when chocolate took precedence over living! Drinking champagne in a limo is not just drinking champagne in a limo. It’s about having a taste of a certain lifestyle, existing on a luxurious, cultivated, and superior universe.

Oh come on, you can’t tell me you have never indulged in a little harmless flirtation with the idea of being fabulously wealthy. I know I do on a daily basis – just walking through my local shopping centre is harmful enough to my mental health. I walk past stores such as Cue or Witchery and have to physically restrain myself from running in and trying on every “latest trend” item in the shop! My larger than life mortgage does absolutely nothing to help my cause, nor does my mediocre paying job.

I am convinced I was born to be rich. Why else would I have this deep yearning for expensive clothes, jewels, cars and houses - ANYTHING I can’t afford? My husband tells me I should work harder, but I’m afraid he fails to see my point. Where is the fun in that? If I were rich I wouldn’t have to work now would I?

I guess money isn’t the be all and end all – as long as you have your health, your family and love and yadda yadda yadda…. you know the drill. For now I will continue to dream of a champagne lifestyle on a lemonade budget!

AVD
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Finding Time to Find Time

In today’s world it’s difficult enough to fit in three square meals a day, let alone find time to go to work, sleep and spend time with the ones we love. Oh, and did someone say exercise?

Time can be a constant problem for people who are overworked, stretched in too many directions and have difficulty balancing all aspects of their lives. As a result, you live in a state of constant frustration, exhaustion, and feeling squeezed on all sides.

Sound familiar? Why is it that as humans we are not fulfilled unless every minute of every hour is crammed with “important” tasks? Our workloads just keep getting heavier and our precious time at home is suffering. There is such a thing as work/life balance and I believe we need to apply some ground rules.

The favorite solution to saving time is to get up earlier in the morning. Now I don’t know about you, but I am certainly not about to give up my 40-minute sleep in. Another time saver might be scrubbing your shower whilst you’re in there, getting clean. I’m sorry, but jumping in the shower after pressing my snooze button 10 times in a row just doesn’t sound all that enticing – and what ever happened to saving water? I’m just thinking of the environment here.

In regards to exercise, the truth is, there's never a right time to get moving. I can list plenty of excuses for not getting fit. Somewhat sadly however, the experts say that just ten minutes a few times throughout the day equates to an exercise program. That crosses the gym after work off my list, what next?

Finding time for sex is easy for those loved up couples who met at the bar last Friday night. But what about the rest of us, the people that realise love will not actually pay the bills? This is generally when sex becomes something you do at night in bed - preferably before you fall asleep. But, after a hard day's work, sometimes there just isn't enough energy left. When you're having sex as often as you like, it doesn't really matter if you have the odd unsatisfactory encounter. But if you're only managing it once a week - if you're lucky - you need to make the most of it. Still not convinced it's worth penciling in a bedroom session? Research shows that regular sex can make you feel and look healthier. When you make love, your body releases substances in the brain that reduce stress and anxiety. It also produces chemicals that create stronger feelings of affection between couples; stimulates growth hormones that reduce fatty tissue and increase lean muscle; and burns off more than 100 calories per hour. That’s a good ten minutes taken from my exercise program!

On a serious note, some people I know believe that money is more scarce and precious than time. They say we should go to school longer, work longer, sleep less. But where would we find new dreams, and what would happen to those beautiful wonderlands between sleep and wakefulness where solutions to problems so often emerge? I say we stop trying to fit so much into our day, take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

AVD

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Pipe Dreams

After reading my friend’s latest post on her fabulous blog this morning (check it out at http://girlwithasatchel.blogspot.com), I sit and contemplate if it is possible for me, myself to write. I have decided to go with yes, it is achievable and I can do anything I put my mind to. So here goes…

Why is it that we so often doubt our ability to perform? Shouldn’t we be the first to back ourselves and inform others of just how wonderful we really are? Perhaps it could be that we are fearful of the outcome if we actually attempt to succeed.

I have many brilliant aspirations that all sound just marvelous in my mind, yet if you asked me to follow through with any of them, all of my courageous endeavours would magically turn into dangerous wagers. After all, let’s be honest, who wants to jeopardise their dignity by running after a fantastic hope? The realisation of a pipe dream usually requires an unlikely succession of events or a complete reform in the dreamer's behaviour. Which is more likely to occurr? I have decided I’m not going to wait around for an unlikely succession of events to change my future.

Have I been to university? No. Have I had many years of experience? No. Am I determined to give it a go? Yes! If I can fulfill my desire to conquer my fear and accept the outcome, I am sure to benefit in more ways than one.

Welcome to my blog…

AVD
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