Stuff I am Loving Sick.

Whisky. So soothing and warming in this cold weather.I like single malt, but I'm not picky, I'll drink anything. But it must be drunk out of my special Waterford glasses that Irish L gave me. Or else.

Motherhood. I am 100% loving this motherhood malarkey. Is there anything cuter than a baby wrapped up in a cashmere jumper masquerading as a rug? I don't think so either. The long arms keep his head warm. Handy.
A freshly Made Bed. I know. My heart rate lowers just looking at it too. My $29 Aldi fitted quilted bedskirt arrangement. You know how much I love a bargain. And I'm not scared to line up and fight a crowd of like minded shoppers for one either.
Flanelette sheets and silk pillow cases. Because Life can be Hard. And Comfort is Crucial.

My Baby. Adorable in every way. What's not to love?

Handmade things. Lovely Jodi sent me these.

They are so divine I can't believe it. Can you imagine the work that goes into embroidering something like this? Thank you!

Messy Updo Hair Arrangements. The perfect match for my overly processed, straw-like, heat damaged blonde do.

Royal Wedding postage stamps. I'm trying to fill the void as best I can by reliving the Magic where ever possible People.

Anything written by Julian Fellowes. Un-put-downable!!!

Downton Abbey. Written also by Julian Fellows! Explains why it's so good. I've only watched 1 episode but found it superior in every respect.

My Garden. Because I action my best thinking in it.

Roses. Because they look and smell great.

This Pucci pattern

I liked it so much I got my mitts on the top too.

Bechamel.

All that mindless stirring is very rewarding.

Freezer Meals. Remember I told you how I was loving Susan Austin's Frost Bite book? Well she's got herself a facebook page. Run Don't Walk.

Let's maintain the Live Trade Rage People. Contact Senator Ludwig here

xxxxx

Pucci and Other Attractive Things.

Remember this Pucci frock arrangement? Well turns out that a lady from the Real Housewives of Miami Franchise was a Fan of this pattern too. Look:
She's got the caftan.

I usually don't eat eggs unless they are disguised in say a cake, but I make an exception for this omelet. Plus it's the sort of thing that can be eaten with one hand. Necessary while you hold a baby in the other.

Baby FF is embracing layering so I can get maximum wear out of his cutest outfits before he outgrows them.

Disturbingly I have discovered that when you shop for baby clothes that there are about triple the number of girl clothes available than boy clothes. Why? This has been the case in chain stores, online, in department stores and in those specialist baby shoppes. Why do baby girls have more options clothes wise? And why are boy clothes invariably covered in crazy logos? Meanwhile if you're after a Discount Forchid they're on sale in the Wonder that is Target.

and Flants have been marked down too.

I went to the park yesterday. It was filled with roses. I wish my garden had more sun and I could get these sort of results.

Do you think the Live Cattle Trade has faded from our consciousness? Or not? This week I'll be embracing a new regime of Thrift. I'm sick of wasting things- money, food, water, electricity. Winter seems a good place to start. Bring on the Austerity Measures I say.

xxxxxx

Zsa Zsa is on her Last Legs

I don't know about the rest of you but I am worried sick about Old Zsa Zsa Gabor. She's slipped into a coma and apparently is fading fast.
First Liz Taylor now Zsa Zsa -who's next? Interestingly they both married into the Hilton clan. My own Hungarian tells me that Zsa Zsa is not a real Hungarian name and is just a made up nick name. She was certainly gorgeous. Look:

Meanwhile I've been thinking about baking one of these

and trying to remember exactly what ingredients I used to whip up this Carbolicious-forgive-me-Dr-Atkins-I'm-eatin-pasta-arrangement. There may have been smoked salmon. There was probably cream.

And can I just say that since I now wear Play Clothes day in Day Out that I really miss my Coalface outfits? Never mind though, I'll be back there with Work Guns Blazing in no time at all (Not literally though. Naturally I'd never take a weapon to the Coalface. In case you had no sense of humour and read this blog super seriously and didn't realise is was in fact a Turn Of Phrase)

And can I just ask something? Why does everything taste better swathed in bechamel? Is it the butter? Is it the cheese? is it a delicious combination of the two?

Are you wondering what Maria Shriver's up to and when the last episode of Oprah will air in Australia? Me too. Poor Maria. It seems she's been a victim of the Double Double Cross (which is like a normal Double Cross but so much more confusing and worse). I'll always remember the episode of Oprah where she said she was her own woman and hadn't been bred to look the other way when it came to philandering.

Maternity Clothes. Let's Live the Dream People.

I was wondering why I didn't hate all my maternity clothes and want to burn them like other women did. I don't know the answer to this question. Anyway, I wanted to see all my outfits in one post, so if you are in a hurry or couldn't be bothered looking at Maternity Clobber, just skip to the end now.

EDITED TO ADD: I've gone back and said where everything's from in case anyone wants to have a go at sourcing something similiar for their pregnant selves.

Ginger and Smart top, Jeans West jeans and this frock is 3.1 Phillip Lim

Promod dress from St Malo Brittany (France not Spears)

Malene Birger from the outnet

proper maternity dress from queenbee.com

Gap maternity frock borrowed from Amber

Temt dress I already owned from 2007

Target dress

proper maternity frock from queenbee .com

dress I borrowed from Amber

Honkers top from some crazy mink coat shoppe on Park Road in the Midlevels

Diane Von Furstenberg top from my friend Kate B

crazy caftan that I already owned

Day Birger et Mikkelson that I already owned

Mint by Jodie Arnold that I already owned that was from frockshop.com

Target maternity smock

By Malene Birger that I already owned

Target smock borrowed from the Zsa Zsa

By Malene Birger that I already had

YSL- already had this in my wardrobe

By Malen Birger

twinset that I already had

Chloe top- already owned this

faux furry vest from Sogo in Causeway Bay Honkers

el cheapo Coat from Noooooosa

Nanette Leporesmock thing that I already had

cardy from a shoppe in Honkers (can't recall which) and a scarf from Sogo in Honkers

Sonia Rykiel from netaporter (from 2008)

By Malene Birger top from a shoppe on the Gold Coast called Christiansen Copenhagen

This was a silk Gaultier twinset from about 2007 and the leopard frock I already had from about 2004

Ali Ro top from bluefly and Missoni scarf that Iom Christiansen Copenhagen that I already had

Victoria Secret dress bought online a few years ago

Topshop tock (gift from my sister) and a Pucci dress I already had

Sportgirl caftan from 2003 and See by Chloe dress from a few years back

twinset from the olden days

Diane Von furstenberg dress that was already in situ in wardrobe

Chloe dress and Goat cardy that already had

By Malene Birger dress (bought this from outnet) and old frock from la la latrobe

By Malene Birger dress that I already had

old Sportsgirl top

old Max Azria dress from bluefly

cheap dress from Noosa.

Big W dress and el cheapo chainstore frock

Phillip Lim

By Malene Birger from the flagship shoppe in London

Target dress

old Castle Starr dress

Target maternity smock

by Malene Birger smock from the outnet

By Malene Birger dress that I already have

Target dress, bought this for the pregnancy

By Malene Birger dress from the outnet

I still think the maternity stuff sold in shops and online is pretty horrible, but you can do a lot with non specific smocks and tent style arrangements. Heavily discounted Malene Birger worked well for me, as did chain stores and really piling on the accessories. I will also miss my el cheapo black skinny maternity jeans from Jeans West. I found it much easier to Maternity Clobber It Up in a Cold Climate (like London in November) than high humid summer.

Happy International Women's Day Everyone.

xxx