That's a wrap

Has anyone ever seen that episode of Will and Grace where Grace moves out and Will turns her room into a gift wrapping room?   

Actually, let’s back up... does anyone remember Will and Grace?  If you don’t, let me refresh your memory:

In my mind, good gift wrapping is an art.  Good gift wrapping goes beyond paper and ribbon selection.  It actually gives you are chance to be really creative, if you want to take up the opportunity.  The most important step to mastering the art of gift wrapping is first accepting the fact that the you’ll create a piece of art, only for it to be torn to shreds, within seconds, in front of your eyes. 

Here is an example of a wedding present I wrapped recently.  A standard box shaped item, wrapped in brown paper ($2 from the dollar shop) and adorned with pretty origami hearts.  

I do wonder if there will ever be a time when perfect gift wrapping will replace the perfect gift?

Judging the book by its cover

While perusing the shelves of the local news agency I was taken by this Tatler cover. Initially, I had to do a double take to work out who the cover girl was.    

It is Emily Mortimer who is beautiful, and quirky, and interesting...  I loved her in season one of 30 Rock where she plays Jack Donaghy’s fiancée, Phoebe who could not be touched because she suffered from ‘avian bone syndrome’.

Anyway, what struck me about this cover was:

a) Tatler's need to exclaim that she is in a dress

b) that it is a ‘nice’ dress, but

c) could you really call it a 'nice dress'?
 
Firstly, it would appear to be more of a top and skirt.  But secondly, and crucially, to me it looks more like she hasn't realised that her skirt is see through and we can see her underwear...


I am quite sure that this makes me prude. 

For your viewing pleasure, here is the offending cover.

Fake Spring

Spring is always a funny time in Canberra... You think it has arrived and then... bam!... spring is gone and it’s cold again.  It’s often referred to as ‘fake spring’, well that's what I call it.  Essentially, it’s just spring being a tease.

I love spring, as soon as it starts to warm up I get excited, and start thinking about all the glorious things that I’ll be doing once the weather warms up.  That’s why I hate fake spring.  You are jumping out of your skin, celebrating the fact that you made it through another bitter, Canberra winter and the rug gets pulled out from underneath you.

My point is... I think fake spring has been and gone and real spring is here to stay.  That’s reason enough to celebrate.  This drink is my ode to spring, my way of saying good-bye to winter and reminding me of all the zesty, fresh, sparkly times that I know are just around the corner...

 

Looking for the renewable.

Since the garage sale last weekend, I’ve been thinking about how easily we dispose of things – one moment we love something, the next we want to upgrade, change, follow the crowd. 

I’m beginning to understand why  so many people are choosing to jump on the up-cycled, second-hand, hand-me-down, band wagon – it’s not only good for the environment, if you’re lucky you might even pick up a bargain.

There’s so much on offer for bargain hunters these days, going beyond traditional garage sales.  If you look long and hard enough, you’ll uncover some treasures.

In Canberra, there’s the Jamison Centre Trash and Treasure markets.  They have been held every Sunday, week in-week out, for as long as I can remember. 

Ahh... the number of bargains I’ve found there over the years... there was that red skirt made out of an old rain coat that was ever so grunge and oozed utter cool, half the kids books and games my dad bought me as a child, or there’s the beautiful cameo brooch (below) that M bought me only a few weeks ago.

And I don’t know anyone that would be able to say no to satisfying their gnawing hunger with a to-die-for donut, bought and sold out of a dubious looking truck that lingers outside the gates most weekends.

Clearing out the cupboards

My parents have recently returned from overseas, with a new desire to lead an uncluttered and simple life.  If you know my parents, this is a big deal.  Prior to moving to remote south pacific countries, their home was filled with well loved, in some circumstances, well used, junk.

Upon their return, and seeing the mountainous piles of useless material that returned from storage, they decided to cull.  In some ways I think it was a therapeutic experience for them – letting go of things that you no longer need, but have some strange emotional bond to, can be cathartic.

The next issue, however, was what to do with all the things they had broken their emotional ties with.  In the end they decided on having a garage sale.  It makes some sense, after you have spent your hard earned money on these things, it is nice to get something back.

We hoped that some lucky shopper would come across our garage sale, and would see – amongst our discarded goods – something that they needed, wanted, had to have, and could possibly love.