Ohayo!

In one week I'll be in Shibuya! I can't even begin tell you how excited I am... oh wait, yes I can. I'M REALLY EXCITED!!

I've been a busy bee, between getting a new (read: BETTER) job and finally leaving the nest that is my family home of 26 years, blogging has taken a back seat. Maybe even the back seat on a bus I'm not even on? Oh how philosophical of me. But seriously folks, this has been a full on six months and I think I need a nap.

New home is fun! It's tiny, but it's cute and most importantly its ours. We're getting on like a house on fire... sometimes the kind of fire that makes you want to leap from the window with your prized family heirlooms... but more often than not it's a happy, loving fire that makes me want to beam in a really smug way that probably makes other people want to punch me. I absolutely love having his company almost all of the time. I'd like to say all the time but that's a lie because living together now suddenly involves a lot of UFC watching.

That said, I still have pangs of missing home and I always miss my mum and dad. I don't think the cord is cut just yet.... maybe I just attached an extension cord to said umbilical cord. Yes I'm going to be 26 in a week, what's it to you?

I won the Christmas tree war. I campaigned for 12 solid months that I would have a Christmas tree in our tiny flat and tears were shed (I wish I was joking), I was ultimately victorious! So what did I do? Buy the tackiest Christmas tree I could find of course, thank you Target. It's red! I love her in all her gaudy glory. She stands 1.2 metres tall.. and I bought 24 metres of lights to string around her. I like to think she's wrapped up in love... and 24 metres of LEDs.

I caught up with one of my oldest and dearest friends who I hadn't seen for an age. We (well at least I) had so much fun - we spent a good 20 minutes debating the name of the quirky science teacher with the really long fingernails (Mr Williams FYI... might save you 20 minutes one day), gossiped in a (mostly) harmless way about who was doing what and/or who. And we somehow got onto the subject of nuclear physics, which was explained with help from a humble salt shaker.

Safe to say that conversation had my undivided attention.

We had LION CUBS come into work. Sorry but I think that the words LION CUBS deserve some serious capitalisation. They were beyond cute and I'm pretty sure everyone in the office made at least one attempt to steal them that day. The other month we had zombies in the office (not quite worth of capitalisation but close). Safe to say, things are always interesting at the new job.

And this last weekend we had a cardboard party. Seriously, this theme is amazing. It costs NOTHING except your time and maybe the muscle between your thumb and forefinger from cutting a lot of thick cardboard... um ouch. Nothing like last minute inspiration (aka google search) to get you moving. We repurposed our old TV box into everyone's favourite arcade game characters. I'm not one to gloat (okay maybe I am... but that's just because I know I'm good. SERIOUSLY KIDDING, I'm not, I suck.) but these costumes looked pretty good considering we started making them 20 minutes after the party was due to actually start. Hooray procrastination! I was the ghost because I have the nervous eye thing down pat and Owen likes to eat a lot ie. the perfect Pacman.

I kind of want to keep them on our walls in all their spilt wine and nacho-cheese-cornchip-smeared glory. A testament to a fun night out with great friends and silly costumes. We ended up with about 3 friendly police cars driving past and giggling at our costumes.

Anyway. That is a long, rambling and possibly annoying account of a few things I've been doing in the last couple of months :) Love love!

It's Tuesday, I'm in love.

Happy Tuesday! Tuesday is officially the worst day of the week – I kid you not. There is none of Monday’s post-weekend glow about it, nor Friday’s dizzy anticipation. But surely Tuesday isn’t entirely without merit – for example if you’re a big Packed to the Rafters fan then I’m sure you’re fond of Tuesdays. Me? Not such a big Rafters fan (sorry Carbo), but this particular Tuesday is looking pretty good – a whole 27 degrees are waiting outside my door to envelope me in all their Vitamin D glory.

This picture perfect weather seems like the perfect time to show off the Spring wreath mum and I put together one lazy Sunday morning (as opposed to all those active Sunday morning… ha!).

We bought it at Paper Source in San Fran over a year ago and, due to my easily distracted nature, 12 months passed before I actually sat down and made it. But it was easy peasy, and incredibly satisfying!

The kit comes with all the flowers already cut out – so all you need to do is play paper florist and get arranging! I won’t lie, there is a little bit of folding involved too, but that’s about as tough as it gets. And, not to toot my own horn or anything, but I think it looks cute!

It’s so bright and cheery and perfect for Spring. And it only cost $20 – amazing! I’m all for doing things from scratch, but I’m also a fan of the easy option, which in this case involved us handing over $20 (who am I kidding... there was no us, it was mum) rather than me spending hours tracing, cutting and in all probability giving up. I’m sure both options would have been equally satisfying… particularly the one that involves me finishing the project.

So here’s to finishing projects – even if they’re relatively easy ones! And here’s to the projects we’d rather avoid… like cleaning bedrooms. When Instragram can’t make your room look pretty, well that my friend is when you know you’re in real trouble. So.. how's about that weather?

insert blog title here

Sometimes I wonder what the people at Myer must think of me when they look at my buying history.What is one woman doing with all those teapots?! I’m pretty sure I’m known “that crazy teapot girl”. To be honest, if you’re buying two of the same white teapot, it might not raise an eyebrow. But when you’re buying 22? It usually looks a little something like this…

I’m a-okay with it! If you’re going to be notoriously crazy about something, why not teapots? I like teapots better than cats and you can bet hurling teapots at people isn’t going to get you in trouble with PETA… unless you hurl a teapot at a cat and then you’re just sick. Anyway no one is hurling anything at anyone so why don’t you all just put your teapots down and take a deep breath.

Phew, that was close.

Anyway I prefer the term quirky to crazy. Quirky is the most polite way you can tell someone they’re a little left of centre (or right, let’s not get political) and you can bet I’ve been told that once or twice in my life time. I’ve also been called feral by a uni lecturer… as in “Emma I didn’t recognise you, you normally look more feral than that” end quote…and it was apparently meant as a compliment. To me as a feral or as a slightly more polished feral, I’m still not sure but it was about six years ago and you can bet I haven’t forgotten (or forgiven. I kid! Always forgive…).

But enough of my petty (yet impressive) grudge holding abilities. One thing I’ve always liked about Japan is that they’re also a little quirky! I’ve been getting pretty (read: very) excited for our trip to Japan in December so I’ve been blog stalking like crazy and trying to pick up some good tips (let me know if you have any - I’ll love you forever!). Along the way I discovered Mameshiba. Words fail me on this one so you’ll have to  read the below and watch. Hope you love it as much as I do!

I spy...

The lovely people at Shop Til You Drop magazine very kindly asked to include one of my teapots in their latest issue. Um.... YES PLEASE! was something along the lines of my response.

I've been pretty darn lucky when it comes to getting a bit of magazine exposure - I never really believed anyone would actually buy my teapots, let alone have three magazines approach little ol' me! Here is the great feature they did on getting things customised. I'm definitely taking note of some of these great shops - that cushion is a steal at $35 (click for full size!)

And why yes, I am sharing a two page spread with my good friend Louis Vuitton (ha!). Exciting!

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!

I see the bright lights. It's the month of July

I'm pretty sure good ol' Father Time is playing some tricks on me, that loveable prankster. July felt like the longest month of my life, but at the same time how the heck is it August already?!

Plenty of things happened in July. Me and Oh both got new jobs! I haven't started just yet but am in the long and painful process that is packing up three years worth of accumulated stuff. And by stuff I think you know I mean piles of scrap paper and dirty cutlery (Seriously, I'm some kind of subconscious cutlery thief. Buried beneath piles of paper I found three knives, two forks and a spoon or two... some washed, some... not so much). I did come to realise I have the desk of a 5 year old, it literally looks like someone robbed a toddler and then emptied their toybox on my desk. I will neither confirm nor deny.

I did my nails in a shade I like to call "Barbie drank to much tequila and needs a bucket". I love fun nails, I think Sally Hansen knows this and keeps making new products to suck me back in. But these were pretty easy and fun - they lasted a week before I could no longer resist the nagging urge to rip them off. And yes I was watching My Big Fat Gyspy Wedding and I'd ask you not to judge thank you very much.

I also bought new pyjamas in Woolworths. Isn't that where you buy all your clothing? Okay maybe not so much. But I couldn't really say no to that delightfully garish pink and the term "Sugar Mommas". I love Patty & Selma and I'm not too ashamed to admit it. Between the nail decals and my choice of $12 pyjamas I sure am doing a good job of convincing you I'm all class.

I've been drinking cofftea! My work BFF has got me hooked on this amazing drink. It's an every day quandry for all us paralysed with indecision... coffee.. or tea? Oh... I'll have a coffee, no... no wait, I will have tea. NO I WILL HAVE COFFTEA! Best of both worlds I tell ya! Just mix a sachet like this with water and let indecision bother you no more. Deeeelicious.

And how's about that amazingly warm yet fleeting weather we had this week. Those few days of sunshine were fantastic for the soul - you can't kind of help but be HAPPY! Something about Spring always makes me excited, I really love an Australian Summer so I think it's the anticipation. Summer always makes me nostalgic for my childhood. It makes me think of primary school where we'd eat frozen Orchy cups on really hot days and watch endless Round The Twist videos during the last days of term because teachers had all but physically left for the year. And the smell of jasmine when you walk in the front gate and Peter Combe Christmas albums on repeat (bet you wish you were my neighbour). I wish I could go back there, maybe even for just an hour and appreciate how simple (code: less stressful) life was back then. And scoff a 50c bag of carobs from the canteen while I'm at it... okay maybe a dollar bag (we're talking 100 carob buds in the 1997 economy people).

PS I think Whitley is the perfect music for an Australian summer. Have a listen and prove me right.. or wrong (just don't tell me, I'm a bit sensitive).

Easy like a Saturday Morning...

All week I'd been pouring over recipes and umming and ahhing over what dessert I'd make for Christmas in July. And you know what I did this morning? I went and bought a cake instead. And while I do admit to feelings of guilt (you don't have that kind of money to just throw around! everyone else is making something, you're so lazy! you could have baked an amazing cake and put it on the blog!) it felt amazing.

Apologies for sounding horribly cliched, but sometimes life happens. And sometimes best thing you can do for yourself (and your sanity) is take that easy (and yes, sometimes easy is synonymous with expensive) option and refuse to feel guilty for it. I think this is the antithesis to my lessons on being thrifty, but this time round I'm okay with it.

I feel like the James Dean of the blogging work - no not heartachingly gorgeous and forever young. But kind of rebelious... and yes, without a cause. I mean, who blogs about a cake they bought from the store? Yesss that would be me, in the corner sheepily raising my hand. I did pick a decidedly rustic looking cake and I wrapped a pretty red ribbon around it... maybe I could pass this off as my own? No I forget, I'm an oversharer - I'll have told everyone in a five kilometre radius that I bought it because I'm lazy, within 30 seconds of stepping into the party. And possibly the results of my last pap test (clear, in case you're curious). Because that, my friends, is how I roll.

So what will I do with the time and energy I've saved by handing over $32 for a cake? Well this morning I went to the doctor and found out I have the hips of a pensioner, despite being 25. I posted some teapots and enjoyed the perks of an empty postoffice. Now I'm going to head to Oh's birthday lunch and not spent the whole time worrying about the cake I no longer have to cook. And I might even squeeze in an hour of bad television - I'm looking at you Say Yes To The Dress.

Sometimes you can have your cake (cooked by someone else) and eat it too (yes I went there, sorry).