Full Circle

27 years ago, I got a Belly Basics maternity dress for $99 (a fortune back then) for work and evening attire. I still wear it sometimes on ‘fat days’ for concerts or parties. For those younger me, the belly basics box of 5 or 6 items (skirt, dress, leggings, tee and tunic which I lived in) was $129. $99 for a single maternity dress was ridiculously extravagant to me but due to hormones I got it anyway. This is sort of what the Belly Basics Kit was - I can't find a photo of the Australian version.

I find it funny that I often get compliments in it, and people asking me where I got it or asking if it was a new dress? It's weirdly still in pristine condition.

The other night I went to the gig in it with the baby that I purchased it for at that time. I announced ''You were in me when I bought this dress!" She looked mildly horrified while she laughed at me.

But that is fashion running a full circle.

I wore it because of her AND with her.

So the lesson is sometimes the expensive dress is worth the expense or as Coco Chanel said "The Little Black Dress is a timeless piece of fashion that will never go out of style." but I'm not sure she was thinking maternity wear....

Linking with #Stylewithasmile

Juju & Friends pop up in Sydney

 

This weekend, C J Hendry's Juju & Friends has popped up in Sydney. I popped down to the White Bay Cruise Terminal to check it out on Thursday and the crowds weren't bad. I imagine it will be busy today and tomorrow.

There's a giant ball pit and inflatable slides, Juju themed of course.

However, to me, this felt more like a shopping experience, than Flower Market, which to me felt more like an immersive art experience. (She's a commercial artist so that's fair, I'm just talking about my experience - No shade, I just really loved everything about Flower Market and was happy to line up for hours for it).

There's the Pandora beads and Juju necklaces to put together. I didn't do that but I did succumb to a Blind Box.

She has put a call out for carers and teachers of people with additional needs to email about getting some of the balls from the ball pit at the end of the exhibition (for free, I think) so look at this Instagram post for the details as you need to email her. I love this!

It runs 10am-8pm each day. Free entry.

Linking with #WeeklyWonder 

The Little Things

I feel this month has flown by and very little has happened that is worth mentioning but let's see what we can do...

READ I read on Instagram "Don't match negative energy. Just shut the power off" (@r.h.sin via @tesssssy.b) and I think that's perfect advice. Eventually you have to call quits on people who do not make you feel your best, nor bring out your best. A simple yet good reminder.

Linking with #WeekendReflection

WATCHED Boys & Girls at STC. That is a play that you can't get out of your head. I can't talk about it because of spoilers but it's got some disturbing facts and a recent news event really highlighted how factual it was. Justine Clarke is excellent in what must be a very exhausting headspace for her to be in night after night. Also went to Strong is the new pretty (also STC) - the new Suzie Miller. Not a difficult watch like her other two plays. More feel good(ish) history. 

We saw Wild Horse Nine which is excellent - very funny though slightly depressing as the political machinations are despicable yet true. Also saw the new Godzilla, which was my first, and was better than expected - though we saw it at IMAX and were too close - subtitles and Imax only work if you are far back. We also went to History of Concrete - a very odd and kooky film. We'd never seen his tv show so it may not be so weird to people that know his style. It raised a lot of questions that we discussed for days after - to do with the film rather than concrete. It showed New York from a very sad and crumbling decay, which I don't think I've ever seen before. That was an eye opener.

HEARD I went to see Noah Kahan but didn't want to spend the big bucks so was literally in the back row. The woman in the seat in front of me said to her date "Oh, this is great, we can see everything!" which I thought was so charming as I'd just been thinking how terrible my seat was. So high five to such a thoughtful lady changing the mindset of the sulky lady behind you & making your date not feel bad about his tickets. She's a keeper. And obviously I heard this song*.

Also went to Bunt - who is awesome - and I was transformed into my happy old self, feeling so great with the burst of energy infused for 2 hours. So fun! I know I share this song all the time but you need to see the crowd - having been at Anyma, I just don't think you need all that. It's getting the crowd into a joyful frenzy that matters. And Bunt def does that. We didn't have the pyrotechnics in this clip but the crowd energy was the same.

 (These are some of the delicious dishes we had at Don't Tell Aunty which is an easy walk to the Hordern  - and my friend ordered the insane drink! I stuck with my negronis...)

MADE My youngest had friends over and they made these jack-o-lanterns. I thought they were very impressive...

I made a mistake - there seems to be a lot of that at the moment. I discovered I had booked friends to see a gig AND myself at a festival on the same night. I only discovered when I went to organise the pre gig dinner booking. However the festival got cancelled so I was spared the drama. I've no idea how I booked tickets for everyone yet didn't write it in my diary!

WORE I've not been out much this month so it was really nice to get dressed up for a date night to see a band. I had to wear shoes I could walk in because I was making the 6km trek to the venue on foot - takes about an hour if I walk fast, as I've not had time to exercise much this month, so it felt great to be able to do so. I Like this chiffon top as it's floaty and hides a multitude of sins....I guess I shouldn't say that - it makes me less conscious of my normal aging body is a better way to describe it.

MY TOP THREE MOMENTS FROM THE MONTH GONE BY 

Having been house bound and cancelling things with a number of personally dramas, and a very sick dog, it was great to get out and see friends, art and music. Even eat in a restaurant! A reminder of how much that stuff nourishes your soul.

My youngest sat her last school exams, she's left school. We await results and Uni confirmation (she's been accepted and got her college booked, so it should go as plan, marks permitting). It is a strange but very happy time for me. Then I need to start making plans for me next year. I can probably do my current job and look after mum in 3 days, so maybe find 2 days work somewhere or work a bit harder on writing or 'extra' work.

Got everyone together for husband's birthday and Imax, plus went to a gig with my eldest. Family time is rare but so special!

Halloween. The spooky street decorations always make me smile! The one above makes me think of Pamela Allen's Inside Mary Elizabeth House.

That's 4 but I've been so negative in my posts of late, I feel I owe you some cheer. 

Linking with #TheLittleThings, #TrafficJamReboot (and my Insta is here if you like to follow along in real time...) 

Sadly I went for this song, not realising it's 12 years old!! He didn't do it....:( Where does the time go?? I thought it was his biggest hit! Ha!

"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

It is rose season. They are in bloom everywhere, and smell sensational - something the store bought cuttings rarely do these days.

I stop and inhale the aromas as I walk the dog, and the heady flowers hang over the fences.

It is joy in olfactory pleasure.

Even my own rose bush, that for years gave me a single flower each year has given me 12!

I'm not sure who said this, but I will attribute if you can clarify for me. “Where roses rise, hope follows.” 

I do think with everything going on for me personally and in the world at large, when I inhale the rose fragrance, I feel a sense of calm, if only momentarily.

I have a rose tea and I've taken to smelling the buds before I add the hot water as it's divine! Interesting to note that in terms of smells, it is said that Rose offers a gentle floral aroma that uplifts mood while calming the mind, so it's not entirely in my head. It's a quick instant boost. And the tea is delicious - like a sweet treat without the calories.

As I saw the roses this morning, I thought "What a good year for the roses" and then, of course, got the song stuck in my head.

However, this is my preferred Roses song. (Song starts at 1.20 mark - they blanked out the swear word)

Linking with #FloralFridayFoto

And here we are for another week of #Allseasons

#Allseasons linky runs from Thursday to Wednesday each week. 

Link one post that shows something seasonal. Traditional weather wise, a seasonal nature marker or a seasonal celebration or event.  Please link relevant posts only.

Make sure you link back to this #AllSeasons post. 

Please comment on the post before yours and the host. Don't dump and run.

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You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Street art in Nantes

I went to Nantes for the Green line art trail but there was so much more art than I expected. This town is an absolute delight.

 

There was always something to look at, no matter where you went. 

The unofficial art was as interesting as the official at times. 

Other posts on Nantes are:

Nantes

Make Art

Look again 

The Little Things - July

Shutters, electrical boxes, street signs, there were little embellishments everywhere!

 

Linking with #WeekendCoffeeShare #MuralMondays  #WordlessWednesday