Friday Film

If you are looking for a little love to fill your Friday, then check out this trailer for the hopelessly romantic I'm Here film, by the eternally supercool, Spike Jonze. The 'Where the Wild Things Are' director has returned to his ad making roots, collaborating with Absolut to make this 30 minute short. Due for release in March...

A little something for me!

I love shoes. Give me shoe shopping over clothes anyday. Sadly motherhood has all but halted my ability to spend frivolously on my feet, until my sister had a very cute pair delivered to me as a birthday treat. The dainty little yellow sandal that would have fit me three years ago sadly left me struggling with a reminder of Cinderella's ugly sisters attempts at squeezing themselves in to the glass slipper. I had to accept that my post pregnant feet just ain't what they used to be and returned them reluctantly. My disappointment disappeared when the replacement pair arrived today. Oooh I love parcel deliveries! My new supercool flocked flatties are fabulous. All I need now is something to wear with them, oh and somewhere to go!

Look but don't touch!

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

This is one to watch if you have little people pawing on things they shouldn't! It's even one for us grown ups too don't you think?

Captain's Log

Potty Training: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Supercool. Its five-day mission: to explore strange new habits, to seek out new ways to wear undies and avoid accidents in public; to boldly go where every little man has gone before...
Captain's Log (excuse the dreadful pun): Supplemental stardate Day 1.
Target missed, landing in strange green wilderness (aka garden) : TWICE
Target missed, landing on strange cold interior surface (aka tiles on living room floor) ONCE
Target never even considered, but announced for all to hear (aka in friends house) : TWICE
Target actually reached: A TRIUMPHANT ONCE (and a half)!!!!
We leave this day with the glimmer of hope that our mission will be successful. Captain S.P. signing off.

And the Oscar goes to....

So it wasn't to be... When lunchtime came my doubting mind hit overtime. Is it because they are saving the best 'til last, or am I the last on the list to be told thanks, but no thanks? I needed to be somewhere by 2pm, so quickly checking my email, I found it. The PFO. Hmm, no phonecall?
It's funny how it all turns out. Yes the money was great, yes the opportunity would have been fun, but look, what's to be is to be. Fate deals you a funny hand sometimes, and if the first job to come along was the one to take then life would be too easy right? I wonder was it the thrill of actually being offered a role rather than the role itself that was more alluring? Operation Plan B is now in full force. Watch this space!

Toilet Training

I have avoided it for long enough, and now it's time. Oh yes, it's toilet training time and I am excited. Hmmmm, no, maybe more anxious ctually...OK so I have made a few vague attempts at introducing the potty to our eldest, getting prematurely excited when he seemed interested, for about a minute. Now that I am planning on returning to work and daycare looms, I really need to get my skates on and get cracking on this sordid task.
I have spent the evening reading up on all things bottom related and am bracing myself for an interesting journey ahead. I have sticker rewards ready, a trip to the knicker shop planned, 20 minute timer set for our new regular trips to the bathroom. I have my positive affirmations drummed in, a dose of patience taken and full faith that we will get through this in one piece and hopefully not ruin the furniture or carpets in the process. Wish us luck...

Getting back in the saddle?

It's been almost three years since I worked full time. Today I put myself to the test and went for an interview. I have been lucky enough to have never had a formal interview before, it always seemed to work out organically for me. This time, I guess, was no different, in that I didn't answer an ad in the paper per se, but to sit in front of a panel in a rather austere boardroom, certainly made me a little nervous and grateful for the glass of water waiting for me.
After three failed attempts at finding a babysitter, I wondered how I was going to manage to get their at all, but as fate had it, my faithful partner in crime came to my rescue at the eleventh hour and allowed me to arrive on time and with minimal perspiration. Actually that's a lie, I did walk a little too quickly, not realising I would have to climb a tonne of stairs to get to my destination. So when I did arrive, I was roasting, breathing a little too quickly, but pretending I was super composed, relaxed and cool all at the same time.
Anyway, how did I get on? Well pretty ok I think? I mean, I answered every question without sounding like a complete goon, was able to ask questions that were of genuine interest to me, make suggestions and not knock over, choke on or crack the glass of water that sat in front of me. Was being in there an hour a good sign? Hmm only time will tell, and if the job is to be mine, then I will share the good news with you on Friday.

Tempting treat?

I have never been one to say no to chocolate, but last night, a particularly 'dark' selection led me to decline. Vinnie brought home a box of Swiss 'delicacies' that turned, rather than tempted my stomach. A chocolatier has put a macabre stamp on our favourite confectionary by creating moulds from the body parts of Russian cadavers. Yes, you heard me, someone actually went into a Moscow morgue and took imprints of eyes, nipples and any scars they could find and created sweets for us to then...eat. To ask the question 'How far would you go for your art' is an understatement. This just goes a bit too far. Who in their right mind thinks that eating an eyelid, nipple or scar of a dead person is an attractive option? Needless to say, the box is sitting untouched on our kitchen bench...chocolate anyone?

Superchef, Supertown

It's festival fever here in Hobart. We've been enjoying food, music and art for the past month, not to mention the glorious weather. The latest festival happening at Salamanca is MONA FOMA or MOFO as it's locally called, showcases a carefully chosen selection of experimental artists and musicians, all keen to push the boundaries of their art, and unafraid to shout about it! It is becoming clear that Tassie is full of surprises and is slowly but surely edging it's way into the main forum of creative entertainment in this country.

Along with the daily music and art at MOFO, there is Mofoba, my favourite part... where you can eat, drink and relax on the biggest bean bags I have ever seen. You can even tackle a game of ping pong or hang out with the muso's as they huddle around the wi-fi tables and pretend to split tracks on their Macs.
The food is of course, fantastic, (as is the beer), and if the video installations weren't enough for you, then cooking demo's are offered right in the middle of it all. (all presented by our terribly talented chef).The only drawback about the festival is that it is keeping Daddy away from his boys, but at least we can go hang out there, play airplanes and jump on those giant bean bags while he chops, slices and dices.

The news you have all been waiting for...

As soooooooo many of you have been asking after our tomatoes, I thought it only fair to give you the latest news on their development. I am very proud to share with you that we have had a bumper first season and harvested a 'crop' that has had chefs all over the State banging down our door.
Ok so we picked twelve. And maybe we haven't ACTUALLY had any knocks on our door, yet. But hey, don't they look fabulous? And I haven't even mentioned our peas...

Living like a Celebrity

Thursday was our 'live like a celebrity day'. Lunch was booked, special after hours visit to our friends at Bonorong, and a surprise extension to my sisters holiday meant for a supercool day.
After a lazy morning we preaned ourselves in readiness for lunch at Moorilla. It was our first time to visit and the boys were so excited to see Daddy in the kitchen. Did he really just cook chips or was there more to his repertoire?

Seated with a birds eye view of the chef in question, we were spoilt by delicious degustation delights, paired with sumptuous wines from the vineyard, some of which we admittedly had to gulp down while we rescued the boys from underneath neighbouring tables. When chasing got the better of them, the next best game was how many salmon roe can you pick off the plate? Oh and how much can we dirty Mummy's pretty cream top? After the Reisling was poured, it really didn't matter. We were treated like royalty and we could do no wrong. Glorious.

While waiting for our chauffeur to take us to our next destination, we explored the very decadent penthouse pavilion, danced on the purpose built music stage and played acrobats on the lawn. Once Daddy was finished and cuddles were had, off we went to feed the animals at the local wildlife park. This visit was extra special as I had organised for us to go after hours, and have a private tour by the spirited owner Greg. Three hours later, we had not only shared dinner with almost sixty gentle 'roos, a baby koala, joey, pademelon and bandicoot, to name but a few, but I had held a blue tongued lizard, (add that to the overcoming a fear list) and we, once again were allowed free reign of the place to enjoy the precious animals. All this on the side of a hill that overlooks the beautiful Hobart hinterland, where your soul seems to regenerate and your faith in humanity is revived.With bellies full and satsfied hearts, we meandered back into town while the sun gently set behind us.

To have shared this day with my sister, show off my very clever and hard working husband and watch the boys play freely amongst Australia's native animals was just one of those unique experiences, that you are given once in a very long while.

New Beginnings

It feels like weeks since I last wrote, but here I am, back again to share some new stories with you. Well, the new year is upon us and I am still playing catch up with the last one. I have also been dedicating some serious time to beach research with the boys (as shown here). It has been heaven having my sister here who has been a third arm to me as we chase, splash and dig with the little ones, while at the same time, enjoying sandy sandwiches, sandy fruit, sandy drinks and of course, sandy knickers. A week of blissful sunshine has done wonders for the soul, I almost don't mind my early starts when I see the blue skies from our bedroom window.
Next week is a big week in the life of our youngest. He turns the big ONE and as I watch him walk across the room with my shoes on each arm, I lament the fact that he is no longer our little baby. Where did the past twelve months go? It is going to be an interesting scene watching the present giving ceremony and how many meltdowns his older brother will have over the fact that it is not all about him this time. Hmm another testing moment for us all I fear. Oh the joys of terrible toddler two-dom. Watch this space...