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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