shop shop shopping!

ahah everyone knows how much a love a good shop, and this week (and last week) has been a good shopping week(s)!! I am meant to be saving money for my trip on Friday-  but what can I do when there sales sprouting right, left and centre? A bit of a long post , but it'll be my last until I get back!

First stop was the Diva sale. Honestly, I only meant to go in for a peep and maybe get some new pearl dangly earrings for Mary-Ann's wedding... who knew they would be having a massive sale last Fri,Sat and Sunday?? I went sort of crazy - but don't worry, most of these are presents! Now I've got quite a bit of Christmas shopping done...

Essie and I made our way to the Spring Home Show (, no I did not buy a house on impulse!) I had free tix and Simon was working so we had a girlie day. As typical it was of the both of us, we only got up at about... 11am (early on a Sat!!) We had a yummy lunch @ The Pantry door. I had a breakfast tart and Essie had a sarnie, then we shopped for organic and gluten free goodies in the store! I had the best organic beetroot crisps! Never knew beetroot could taste so good!!

Then we hopped on next door via a connecting door is a cute lil boutique. I refrained :) They sell MinkPink and other cute brands here (can't remember the name of the store but its connected to The Pantry Door.

Then we made our way to the home show. Nothing great this time, the same ppl. The recession is hitting the housing industry somewhat as there are not many people around and a lot of hte exhibitors were just sitting down chatting. I did find some incredible tiles (they look like silver foil!) but Simon would kill me if I want to re tile the kitchen or bathroom!! They were really expensive too. I was careful not to enter any "Freebie" competitions as we got caught the last time. There is no such thing as a free air cond/pot/paint job/insulation/rollershutter/home. These companie, once they get hold of your details, you'll be pretty much annoyed and hassled day and night. Look at the entry form below: You can't even answer "No"!!!

Next day Simon and I went to Milkd for great coffee and brekkie (he felt left out I went with Essie ytd) mmmm vegetarian grill and iced choc for me!They supposedly serve one of the best coffees in Perth, but I wouldn 't know since I gave up coffee about 8 years ago... Simon liked the iced coffee though (hot day!)

 

And yes... almost everyone I know, knows that I was hunting for a pink dress. You know, how once you stop looking, they appear everywhere???? I went to Valleygirl for an insta fashion fix and what do I see?? At least 5 pink frocks staring back at me... I tried them all and bought one! I am now selling the other dress I bought on Ebay. I hope I get good price, coz I did pay quite a bit for it and it was brand new with tags still attached.

I bought this one!!

This was a close second!

This one was on sale... nah...

Happy Halloween everyone! xoxo

Pressed flowers

My very old snapdragons! Snapped in the bathroom!





I have been working at my garden over the past few months, so I'm very pleased that everything's growing so well. I pick some to put in the house, but its so hard! hehe I feel like I've worked so hard over the winter, only to pick them , and they last a week in the house?!?!
Stock, Lavender and snapdragons from my garden!!
As usual all my snapdragons look good :) I've added more varieties and tried to grow them from the seeds from last year's dried up pods - am happy to report that they do really work!! I'm trying taller varieties this time round

And I've added stock! I can't believe I've never tried this flower before!! Great big bunches heady purple, white and magenta flowers yay!!
purple stock
The disappointments this year?? The foxglove (no sign of any florals yet, and the seedlings have been planted for 6 months now...) star jasmine (a sllllooooowww grower - put them in LAST year!!) and poppies - 1 flower at the time?? no thanks


So, anyway Simon bought me another craft book (like I need anymore ;p) and thought I will try doing some pressed flowers. Eeasy enough, and a few months down the road I can have my hard work preserved for a long time!!

I'm trying out with this bunch of pink snapdragons (which I accidentally snapped off whilst pinching out the old blooms whooops!)
The pink snap which i accidentally "snapped" off!

And sandwiching it between two peices of tissues within the pages of.... Simon's 2004 MIMs haha! We have so many copies lying around!! Luckily this year MIMs is in digital format - that's a lot of trees saved!!!
Good old MIMs

Happy Birthday Aryeh!

Aryeh, the birthday boy!


It was my nephew's first birthday today! We celebrated at a children's playground @ Belmont and had a picnic brunch with some of his friends (well, kids of Judy & Warren's friends)

I made scones and Judy made heaps of goodies (sardine and chicken puffs, biccies etc) including the birthday cake!!

Happy 1st birthday, Aryeh, from Uncle Simon and Auntie Pet :) xo xo




The birthday cake! All baked by Judy - with 2 kids and 1 more on the way!!

Happy Birthday Aryeh!

Judy, Ari & Simon

Aryeh, Ari and a friend playing in the tent

An FO woohoo!

Finally Finally!!! I've been so busy (busy and busy procrastinating!!) lately and its just been harder and harder to find time to unwind and knit. Between a difficult work environment, new work time adjustments (7.30AM darn WA!!!) and getting myself ready to celebrate Mary-Ann's wedding, I just simply run out of time!

Blessedly, I've found everything for MA's wedding (I'm co-planning the hen's night plus a multitude of dresses!) and since then everything has fallen into place. Presenting my... Frock Cami! Luckily I started this in June- its all ready for summer here :)

It also took me so long, because I started this project... 3 times! I knitted the small size , but thought CO 188 was too much, so I tried with 120, but then couldn't get into it halfway through (ohh the agony of ripping an entire project when its half way through) then increasing to 150, but also realising about 1/3 of the way that it was not going to fit the way I wanted it (loose) so I gave in a CO 188.... painful painful....


Luckily I love the end result!
Pattern: Frock Camisole by Katie Himmelberg
Yarn: Jo sharp Soho Summer Cotton DK
Needles: 4.5 mm 100cm circular

and because someone told me I should credit everything in the picture...

Skirt: Toile
Cami (underneath): Fleur Wood
Swallow Hairclip (worn as a brooch) : Diva
Belt: Country Road
Lippie: MAC lipglass in Red Romp
No shoes this time!!

PS: sorry about the weird angled pics! I had no one to take them for me!!!

Quest for a Pink dress

I've been a very terrible blogger lately - bogged down and being miserable at work, and too tired to knit, not a good combo. I haven't even been buying yarn or anything, something is terribly wrong- no? The good thing is that I'm sort of getting my knitting mojo back, and hopefully I'll be completing at least 2 of my UFOs this month (I kept telling myself that last month!!)

I'll be holiday back to Malaysia soon (1 week from 30th Oct!!) and I'll be a maid of honour to my bestie Mary-Ann's wedding! I've been real excited about this and the only difficult part is finding a pink dress (or rather a few pink dresses!!) I've been searching for.... ahem... 5 months for these wretcherd pink dresses and back in June I actually found the reception dress by Truese (above) and then on till last week for the "door games" dress.

In modern chinese tradition ( don't think they had this in ye olde days) all the zhi muis ( bride's attendants will set a series of "tests" before they would allow the bridegroom to collect his bride, thus starting the actual traditional tea ceremony. "Tests" could include making the groomsmen eat/drink vile/weird tasting concoctions, sing songs, sign a promise doc (heeh Simon had to promise to take me on a overseas holiday once a year LOL) and all sorts of fun things hheh...

Anyway, I need a pink dress that is comfortable and yet dressy enough and something that I like!! Last weekend, I went to 2 malls and more than 30 stores... apparently pink is not the season's latest colour! Finally after scouting on ebay and online stores I finally bought a pink Sass dress. Its not here yet, but here's a photo! Hope Mary-Ann approves :)


Sass pink cotton dress- fingers crossed, that it will fit when it arrives!!


After this wedding, I never want to see another pink dress again!!!

ps: along the way, I got distracted by many non-pink dresses... and bought a few!! My wardrobe's very happy, but my wallet is not :(. Hey, what can I do when I've been shopping for 6 months straight?!?!?!


Kachel dress during the DJs mid season sale

Ladakh purple silk dress for hen's night party- bought from Imago Collections - this is a great online store!

Katherine dress from DJs - needs a bit of alteration at the shoulders (straps are too long, but its not visible in this photo because the security tag is dragging the strap down)

Another dress bought the last few months... distracted and sick of pink then!

I've been tagged!

I've been tagged for the first time by the lovely Eliana - her beautiful knits are a huge inspiration :)


I've never been tagged before, so here goes :)

Rule # 1 To display this tag on your blog

Rule # 2 Post the rules :)

Rule #3 Link back to the blog that tagged you

Rule # 4 Make a list of the 5 senses and what each one represents for you

Rule # 5 Tag 5 other blogs and let them know!

My 5 senses are:

Sight: of all my loved ones :)

Smell: of a newborn baby! they smell the best

Taste: Luscious summer strawberries

Feel: of my warm cozy bed on a chilly morning

Hear: my mum talking to me on the phone...


I tag:

Daphne

Alesia

Mabel

Michelle

Cynthia

A breather

My knitting's been on the quiet lately - a little lack of motivation and busy everyday life (aka job) etc has left my progress a bit short. I'm trying to complete a couple of UFOs, soon, I hope!!