from head to toe

From a young age I was obsessed with the musical Annie. Y’see my brother, at the tender age of eleven, had the much coveted role of Daddy Warbucks in the Lugarno Public School production. I was a little star struck by the glamour that is a primary school musical and longed to have the part of Annie. I was all of eight years old and not even part of the school choir, nor a particularly good singer and I didn’t even audition! And let’s not even get into how confusing it would have been to have my brother play my adopted father. Suffice to say my Broadway dreams ended that year.

But I did pester my parents into buying me a copy of the movie on VHS, which in the year 1994 was a tougher task than you might appreciate. My thanks to them was a nightly bathtime performance, ranging from Maybe to Tomorrow and back again. And even now if I’m feeling nostalgic Owen might be privy to a heart-warming rendition of I Don’t Need Anything But You… but I try and keep that to a minimum.

One of the best songs – and sentiments – from the movie version of Annie was You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile. Check it out (ps cutest orphans ever, who taught them to shimmy?! I’m looking at you Carol Burnett.

And while I like to believe I subscribe to message of the song, I think I often have a case of chronic bitch face. And to be honest, I’d like to think I’m fully dressed when smiling, frowning, pouting or giving a serious case of stink eye. I don’t particularly want to worry about being “naked” by these standards, when I’m hysterically crying during A Walk To Remember.

But I digress, the whole point of this post was that I wanted to post an outfit I would love to buy had I not just spent all my money in a foreign country and signed up for a mortgage. And the reason I thought of this song in Annie was I knew they used the line “Head to Toe”… except in hindsight line is actually “it’s what you wear from ear to ear, and not from head to toe”. SO sure, this might be going against the whole premise of the song – but let’s pretend somewhere between head to toe there is a smiling face shall we?

Dress: This cute as a boot dress is from Vanilla & Lace. I actually have this dress in a different fabric and can I tell you how supremely impressed I was? The fit is gorgeous and the quality was incredibe – and to think it’s all handmade for that $60 price tag? Amazing! Buy it buy it buy it. I’m thinking this mustard version may have to find its way to me.

Brooch: I think a this brooch set from Made By White  is unbelievably sweet! These ladies can do no wrong in my book.

Shoes: I’m not a short lady and in fact I’m probably taller than 95% of my friends. But I still enjoy a high heel as much as the rest of you. In fact, maybe more because I have cankles and heels help them look a little less… cankley (yup that’s an adjective. Just ask Richard Morecroft.. okay don’t, I might look silly). And these funkis look like they would do the job nicely!
Headband: This headband from Sunshine & Carousels is dreamy. And pretty reasonably priced too I might add.

Oh and make sure you add that smile somewhere in there... that way the start of thi blog post kind-of-vaguely-but-not-really, links to the end. Tadaaaaa!

It might as well be Spring

It's Spring!! I say it with enthusiasm and a touch of false confidence, considering it was a little gray and chilly when I left for work this morning. But who cares - those degrees, they're on the up and up from here on in.

The mere thought of Spring can literally put a spring in your step (okay there is nothing literal about that... metaphorically just didn't sound as good) and make you look all goofy and smiley. Even when you're chained to your desk, completely devoid of any Vitamin D and a "toasty" 18 degrees thanks to your work's overly efficient aircon (speaking from experience? never...).

My favourite Springy/Winter Hating thoughts include:

• No longer having to run shrieking (and/or streaking) through the house to the shower on those cold, cold winter mornings, alarming everyone who was previously sound asleep in the house.
• Expanding my lexicon beyond the words "I'm cold" because I'm pretty sure I don't say much else for the entire three months of Winter. I know friends, family and boyfriend will be grateful for this one.
• It's almost Christmas! (This isn't limited to Spring... I have been known to say it around Australia Day) I know friends, family and boyfriend won't be grateful for this one.
• Dresses! I have a wardrobe bursting with summer dresses, all of whom are lonely and a little bitter at being neglected through those colder months. Sorry gals, it's your time to shine.
• Also shining will be my pasty white legs! They don't belong on this list obviously but I thought it was a bit rude to make a negative list after talking up Spring so much. Sorry Spring, I still love you!

Speaking of warmer weather fashion, I spied this necklace on Made It this morning and might have to pinch my pennies extra hard so it can be mine one day.

And I will admit that I have my pre-pinched pennies aside for a piece (or two...) of the new Red Velvet Autumn collection. Autumn... Spring... Tomato... Tomato. Ha... knew that phrase would work for me on the internet eventually. I've got my eye on one... (or both.. who am I kidding) of these.

So you can bet your bottom dollar (or alternatively just give it to me... that would be nice!) that I"ll be sitting at my desk at 9am, refreshing the site to the point of RSI. The things we do for love eh?

In other words - HAPPY SPRING AND NO MORE WINTER! IGNORE THE GRAY SKIES!