FB.

I received this birthday greeting on FB from a cousin.

HBD. That's it. Oh and a smiley face. Is it really that difficult to say happy birthday. I don't need a long heartfelt message or anything. I thought my reply was appropriate.

There were some heartfelt messages and lots of birthday greetings that made me smile.

26th of October.

Twenty six is my favourite number, I like it so much I turn 26 on the 26th of October every year.

This photo was taken on my actual 26th birthday. So long ago.

This was my first birthday party as an adult and all my friends turned up. I didn't think they would travel all the way to woop woop where my parents live but they did. That was the trouble with uni friends, they come from all corners of Sydney.

This was my 26th in 2007. The theme was pink.

This was my 26th 2008.

This was 26th 2009. I was very tipsy here. I usually only drink one glass of wine but someone kept topping me up when I wasn't looking. I was too tipsy to realise anyway.

I can't believe there is no photo of my 26th 2010. I was pregnant with Bubby at the time. I must ask my parents if they have photos. I might have it on the old computer, must check.

26th 2011, the theme was Nautical. Everyone looked great.

I woke up today knowing it's going to be a super hectic day. The first thing I said this morning was "I can't wait for this day to be over". I can't believe I just wished my birthday away. I survived the day despite some semi-major mishaps. I arrived at work to see my desk like this

There were tens of little origami dresses stuck to my pinboard and hanging on my shelf, presents, flowers, cookies, chocolates, macarons and breakfast which I've already eaten by the time I took the photo. Gosh, my desk is a mess.

There was also a cake.

I came home to find one of my rose bushes has bloomed like crazy considering its neglect.

Bubby helped with the laundry. I passed the clothes to him and he put them in the washing machine. They were his clothes, after all.

He closed it without being told.

He even turned it on himself. He is the best birthday present.

Planning a Pool Party - Gingham Style.

It's that time of the year again when I celebrate my annual 26th birthday. I forecast that it will be a warm, sunny day and since the pool is freshly cleaned a pool party is in order. I always have a birthday party theme and force my family to humour me and dress up. This year will be Gingham Style - yes I have joined the latest pop dance craze, who hasn't? This is the photo on my facebook invite:

I sourced the photo by googling Gingham Style on google images. I can't be bothered to find the link and yet I typed all this up.

 I really like this two piece from ASOS but I think I left it too late for it to arrive by next Saturday. I might still order it if it's available in my size.

This should hide my stretch marks courtesy of Bubby.

I like this dress if it weren't for the little peep hole.

Loving these capri pants.

Cute!

 

This is probably what I'll end up wearing if it's available in my size. It's from Myer by Miss Shop. If this doesn't work I'll have to wear a table cloth as a sarong.

While I have been able to pass myself off as not a day older than 26 for years, I believe those days are over. I feel and look like I have aged 10 years since going back to work. Next year I might consider turning 30 or getting botox.

Kitchen (Mis)Adventure - Sunday Roast.

Inspired by Faux Fuchsia's post here, I decided to give roast chicken another go. The first and last time I roasted a chicken it took an hour of prep and 4 hours in the oven. I made the whole thing from scratch including stuffing and I did some fancy trussing too. It was THE best roast chicken I've had, pity we didn't get to eat until 10 PM. Today's roast chicken was a little bit quicker to cook.

It was delicious.

It was accompanied with crunchy roast potatoes, roast pumpkin, which was cooked to perfection by hubby, and some sad looking asparagus. Excuse the haphazard table setting, formal dining it wasn't.

Last Sunday we went to hubby's friend's place for roast lunch. We brought them macarons from Laduree, $76 for a box. Crazy! It was way too sweet for my liking but the kids, including Bubby, loved it.

Here's Bubby reading in the car on the way to lunch.

Another work week starts tomorrow. I really hope it will be better than last week. Work is no Disneyland at the moment, definitely not the happiest place on earth. Coming back to work from holidays to what can only be described as the proverbial shit hitting the fan was not good. Anyway, onwards and upwards. I usually truly enjoy coming to work but morale is low at the moment but we're a tight knit group and this too, shall pass.

Springtime is Swim Time.

Today was 30+ degrees and sunny. What a great way to end spring break. I'm not counting the weekend because it's going to be cool and rainy. Everybody knows that the weekend at the end of a holiday before going back to work is the time to catch up on all the work you had planned to do during the holidays that you never got around to doing because you were busy doing holiday stuff. Or am I the only person who actually plans to do work during the holidays? Even as a teenager I used to bring school work with me while on holidays, what else do you do on an 8 hour flight or the down time between seeing family and shopping and other fun activities? I think I may have even brought work with me while on honeymoon, I didn't touch any of it though, can't say the same for hubby. I remember him calling work from a payphone in front of the LV store on Avenue des Champs-Elysees. Anyway, I digress because I secretly want to relive the days of carefree travel and so I name drop the fabulous places I've been to any chance I get.

Bubby and I started the day by driving hubby to work in the city then having breakfast with my dad while he has a 1.5 hour coffee break (although I don't think he's done any work yet at that point, it's Friday after all.) I was tempted to stick around for the Sydney Swans victory parade but didn't want to navigate the road closures.

It was already hot by the time we got home. Bubby was a bit upset that I wouldn't put on his shoes. He associates going outside with putting shoes on.

First dip.

He wanted to go deeper.

Absolutely loving it! This was just before the splashing that made it impossible to take more photos.

Bubby had his lunch alfresco and shirtless so he can eat watermelon to his heart's content and I don't have to worry about stains on his clothes.

Once Bubby went down for a nap I went in for a swim. Not really, don't be fooled by my artfully blurry photo. I was cleaning the pool. It was easier to clean it while I was in it. The pole on the filter thing kept bumping the branches on the trees and knocking more leaves into the pool faster than I can get them out.

The weekend will be cool. Such a shame. I used to dislike summer but I'm now looking forward to it. Bubby's just woken up, it's time to play. 

This Can Only Mean One Thing.

Hello Summer! 

Kitchen (Mis)Adventure - Strawberries and Chocolate. Things That Annoy Me. Things That Make Me Smile

I found myself with three punnets of strawberries and three tubs of frozen chocolate ganache that had to be consumed rather quickly.

I had several ideas but I felt like waffles for breakfast...

Looks good doesn't it? I made the waffles from scratch too.

Hmmmmm.

Bubby had one too.

And he liked it! 

There were some strawberries left but not enough for the tart I had in mind so they ended up being coated in chocolate and left in the fridge to set for a few hours. They weren't the freshest strawberries because they froze in the fridge but they were still edible if you don't mind soggy strawberries.

 Lots of things annoy me as I mentioned in a previous post and there are more things I will add to the list.

Drivers who can't park annoy me.

Mine is the car on the left. This idiot left me with so little room to open the back door which happens to be the side where Bubby's car seat is. Bubby didn't make it any easier with his squirming and arching of the back and kicking. I'm surprised I didn't hit his car with my door. I was tempted. It looked like a brand new car and if I had hit it with my door I wouldn't have left him a note as I figured serves him right for not parking properly. That and I didn't have a pen. I actually waited a little while before attempting to load Bubby in the car just so it was easier for me once their car is gone and also so I can glare at the driver. I waited all of two minutes then figured stuff it, if I hit it then I hit it.

Politicians who have nothing better to do with their time and tax payers' money than to come up with stupid and expensive ideas annoy me. For example, the renaming of NSW roads that will cost us to the tune of $20M. It's supposed to make it easier for interstate travellers/tourists? Newsflash, if you can't find your way to the Hume Highway it's not going to be easier for you to find the 'A22'. Or if you can't navigate your way to The F3 I really don't see how calling it the M1 Pacific Motorway will make it better. Learn to read a map or get a GPS device. I'd hate for the prettily named Bells Line of Road to be renamed boring 'B59'.

Breakouts like I'm 15 again annoy me. I guess it's one way of looking young at any age.

I haven't had a breakout like this in over a decade so why now?

My beauty routine. The cruel irony of needing anti wrinkle cream and pimple cream at the same time. Add to the mix eczema and dry lips.

Enough negatives, there are more things that make me smile.

Bubby and his 'bawoo'. It was cold and windy day at Centennial park last Saturday so he had to borrow his daddy's jumper. He looked like a wizard.

Flowers in the garden.

Bubbby and his current favourite thing, boxes. Here he is in the act of closing the lid.

Bubby drawing stars (tar). After this we went shopping and it wasn't until we got home that I realised I had a green line across my neck. Thanks, Bubby.

Japanese Elm, so pretty.

I discovered that the plant in this pot was actually alive and it's a hydrangea! I'm glad I kept watering it even though I thought it was just dead branches.

A flower from Bubby = Love.