All you need

On Saturday night we attended the wedding of some very close friends, we all battled the torrential downpour in Melbourne to make it to Jacques Reymond for the 5pm ceremony. I wore my newly-made creations ( dress and jacket) and I decided not to stress myself too much so I will make the little bag another time.

Here's a couple of quick snaps I took the next day... I did alright didn't I!
 

Let me tell you about this wedding. It was such an unfussy, elegant affair - there weren't carefully selected songs for each moment of the ceremony, there weren't pew bows or Order of Service booklets, no great formal running sheet and no bridal table - I was lucky enough to be seated next to the bride herself! I loved the sincerity of the event, it wasn't a big production - there was no bouquet to toss or garter to throw but there was a close group of family and friends there to celebrate this special event in the couple's lives. That's all you need.

 It's a Croation tradition for all guests to wear

a sprig of rosemary for fertility and remembrance.

I try

I've been trying to get the word 'try' out of my vocabulary (ooops there I go again!) To try means to 'make an effort or attempt'. If you really intend to do something, why say 'I'll try'? It really means that you're allowing yourself to not get it done.

Yesterday as I headed out for a run (yes a run) our little neighbour asked what I was doing, so I replied 'I'm trying to run'. She cocked her head to one side, screwed up her nose and said 'Why are you trying to run?' Bingo! There's my wake up call - why try? - just do it! You'll be amazed at what you can achieve when you consciously remove this word from your vocab.

Yes I am running! I've been running the past 4 of 5 afternoons and yesterday I saw a real improvement - chasing Trav around the local streets I kept up for a lot longer than I'd expected to, I enjoy it so much that when I finally catch my breath (about 20 minutes later) I actually feel like going out again!

I was lucky enough to attend the best ever hens party on Sunday, we were enjoying manicures and massages with high tea at the Royal Botanic Gardens, there wasn't one little bit of men's anatomy in sight and I met some really lovely girls, I just hope my bridesmaids look after me as well as myself and the 'self appointed lady-in-waiting' did for our friend when arranging the day!

I'm still busy sewing up a storm at the moment, hence my lack of interesting posts, but I'll soon have a complete outfit to show you - all ready to attend our close friends' wedding at - wait for it - Jacques Reymond. Can't wait!

Ride to Work Day

Today is National Ride to Work Day in Australia and I’m taking part for the first time. The weatherman threatened rain but I awoke to a calm dry morning and met friends Andrea and David at the Westgate Punt. I’ve been looking forward to trying this out – it will cut out 2/3 of my riding but the trip can take just as long depending on what time the punt leaves. There has been a big push to get this going full time again and there’s a lot of interest but of course – no one wants to pay for it! The service opened especially for today in the hope of drumming up more demand for the future. The rain came as we crossed the Yarra and we huddled together under the big red tarp. I enjoyed the novelty of it but felt a bit like I’d cheated – definitely didn’t get the aerobic benefit that I normally would. But I do think I’d use the Punt now and then and hope to gather some friends for a trip to St Kilda one weekend when the weather improves. It was also nice to catch up on Andrea’s wedding plans -finally I have someone to plan with!

Westgate Punters!

The Westgate Bridge viewed from the Punt

Well the verdict from Trav’s workmates was good – in fact they all thought it must be his birthday because otherwise why would he bring in dessert?? He was almost to the point of pulling out his drivers licence to prove that his birthday isn’t for another 2 weeks. Anyway a birthday request has been put in for the same tart – but I have something else up my sleeve!

Spring in SA

Port Douglas: Light Rain Early. Mostly Sunny. Mild. Humid. 27.

It's been 2 weeks since my last post - because things were nuts at work with the AGM and then it was holiday time! I picked Trav up from Sunbury after his boys gold trip and from then on, I felt totally removed from work and everything else. We had such a great time with Aunty Maureen, we went shopping in Hyde Park, visited McLaren Vale and the Barossa, caught up with Bob & Trish, Angela and spent the last night with Joan and Wayne before heading through Coonawarra to Portland for a night.

We both really enjoyed spending time with Maureen, besides a cough, she really didn';t appear to be sick although she did say that she was experiencing a lot of discomfort. She was thrilled to receive our wedding invitation and seeing us trying on our wedding rings. Felt so weird, I think I'll get a big shock when she finally passes away because I don't think I believe it yet. She took us through her house and we took home some beautiful wooden book shelves, terracotta pots, a metal watering can, some vases and a tea strainer.

I really enjoyed the weekend with the girls in Lorne, fell in love with the solid coffee table which I was told I might find at Erskine River Trading Co or Asian Tide. The living area was also just beautiful, I think I miss the sunlight in our home, the living area was 9 metres long.

Going back to the wedding - here are my hair muses, Naomi Watts and Jackie-O.

So much to tell...

Port Douglas: Mostly Sunny. Mild. 26.

What a brilliant weekend! On Friday morning I finally ordered a stunning silk kimono from Plum Pretty Sugar - I've been staring at this for months and have looked everywhere but couldn't find anything like it. I'm going to wear it when getting ready for our wedding next June.

Plum Pretty Sugar loungerie

Friday evening: we snuggled on the couch and watched 'He's just not that into you' - didn't love it.
Saturday: Spinning and body balance before giving 2 chinese girls a lift to Nicholson street. not something I often do but they seemed harmless enough and they thought the same of me The weather was just beautiful - I wore my new denim witchery skirt (See below), black leggings, cream polo and green 3/t cardi with my brown ruffled ballet flats and we both went out to Flair Menswear in Preston to look for some suit ideas for the wedding. We tried Ted Baker - not many to choose from that included waistcoats but left our details there just in case. A 2 piece suit was around $800 and there were a couple of nice light greys.
Across the road - Hugo Boss had nothing with waiscoats and prices were approx $100 higher generally. The assistant suggested we try Zegna in David Jones but when I read on their site that they are one of the 'oldest business families in Italy' I figured they were well and out of our price range.
With time to spare we had a look around DFO - Politix had a couple of options, but no vests, LOGO suggested we try in a couple of weeks when the spring/summer range hits the store - there are generally more waistcoats out then.
At Tarocash Trav spotted a light grey 2 piece with a lighter stripe through it in white and blue, it was very subtle and he said he really liked the look of it. No waistcoat of course and the suit was synthetic but we were a step closer. I really would like to get a wool or wool blend suit for him as it will be much more comfortable for a full day in the tropics - not to mention it will last a lot longer generally!
Here are a couple of style pics inspiring me right now (left one is from a Real Weddings mag last year)


On the train this morning a guy was wearing a similar suit to the one Trav liked and said he got it a Man to Man. Once there I discovered it was synthetic but was suprised at the range of 2 pieces pure wool or wool blend they had for less than $400. Still no waistcoats. Why bother? Well, on page 80 of the latest issue of Bride to Be is a real wedding look that we both loved, relaxed but sophisticated, by the beach in NSW. So I decided to go straight to the source - it turns out Matthew Lawrence Bespoke was responsible for that outfit but being based in Sydney he won't really be that helpful.
I'd really like to get Trav something special - Herringbone, Saba and Rhodes & Beckett all come to mind, I want him to feel extra confident on the day.

Saturday night we headed to the Rochester Castle in Fitzroy for Kate's birthday drinks, I wore my grey chiffon witchery skirt, black long sleeve scoop neck knit, studded belt and lace up boots - love that outfit!

Sunday I rode to work then met Trav at Docklands afterwards for a wind down drink - before spending an early evening in bed and then watching Little Miss Sunshine - did love it!

Veil or no veil?

Feeling better and back on board now! On Friday night Louise and Mum came along to my dress fitting at Brides of Melbourne. Funnily enough, it seems my back is broader than last November as the dress wouldn’t zip up all the way! Well if only there was something to show for it on my chest! I think I’m really going to have to wear a g for this dress, nothing else will do the trick!

We experimented with some feathers on the side of my hair – and the beautiful matching jewelry. I definitely want something poking out of my messy bun – and it’s looking like the birdcage veil is going to be overkill. Looking at the prices of the hairpiece and jewelry we agreed we could have fun making it ourselves instead. Now I’m thinking about having one or two orchids in my hair instead of the feathers – I wonder how many more times I’ll change my mind?

On Saturday I was working at Passionfoods when I experienced ‘opposite déjà vu’. A lovely lady asked me whether we have any vacancies and if it was worth her bringing her resume in – I said ‘this is exactly how I got the job’ so bring it in – you never know! She returned a minute later saying that her boyfriend though I was so nice she better remember my name – and that’s how I met Kristy with a ‘K’! Colleen was the lovely lady who passed on my resume - will the cycle continue?

Waiting for the train on my home that night, the girl next to me struck up a conversation – it turned out that she works at Brides of Melbourne and she recognized me from the night before! If only more people chatted with the person next to them, waiting time would go much faster.

After a long hot bath I had another restless night’s sleep and woke up with a headache, I tidied up, walked Rossi to get the paper and when I was in my own little world – taking washing off the line I turned around for some reason and there was Trav – standing in the doorway watching me! Finally he’s home again! I think the last 2 weeks were harder this time as I hadn’t been feeling as strong as I normally would.

On Random acts of Kindness on Sunday night, a lady who provides the ‘Footpath Library’ to homeless people was featured. At the end she encouraged people to stop and have a chat with the homeless – not avoid them. We will discover that they are just like you and me. On the way to and from Monday’s meeting I was approached directly by two different homeless people. I had left my purse at home and when I told each of them this they didn’t believe me. I wonder if I would have stopped if I thought I could help them?