Home improvement

            

Living in a not-so-big space as we do has many benefits (importantly, less floor space means less surface area to keep clean), but it comes with its challenges.  One of those is carving out enough storage space for two lifetimes’ worth of belongings.  We have done well so far (and we have three bedrooms to divide between two people, so really shouldn’t complain).  However, we have noticed that the two “spare” bedrooms are a little under-utilised, and so we have devised a little scheme to put things right.

There will be a rearrangement of existing furniture, and hopefully, a new tall chest of drawers making its way into spare bedroom 2/ study/ all-purpose room.  With another (existing) chest of drawers, we plan to bust out the paintbrushes and give it a colour makeover.  But for us, this definitely does not mean a weekend of sanding, priming and painting a couple of coats on the timber beast (because who has time for those things).  This is because, with what I might say are some pretty deft Googling manoeuvres, I have discovered the wonder that is Annie Sloan chalk paint.  This magic paint, if you will, purports to be suitable for painting right onto the surface of furniture with little to no prep work.  I plan to try out Ms Sloan’s tricks on our old chest and, hopefully, blog about what I hope will be some pretty darn fantastic results.  Now to decide between Duck Egg Blue, Old Violet, Paloma or Paris Grey …

Pass me the celery

I know it’s more important to be healthy and active, but is it so bad that I hope this little gym escapade will produce some visible results?  I have to admit, over the past month or so of becoming a 3-4 times a week gym person (what?), I do feel stronger and I have significantly more energy.  I also don’t feel like I’m putting my body under strain by climbing up a flight of stairs at the train station anymore (which literally used to happen, and which is completely wrong for a 28-year-old woman with no known medical problems).

I’ve enlisted a couple of colleagues at work to keep me away from the snack box and the inevitable birthday/child’s birthday/anniversary/I-made-too-much cake that usually floats dangerously near to my desk.  I’ve also cleared out my personal snack area and replaced said unacceptable snacks with exotic-smelling herbal teas and less-than-500kj Weight Watchers bars.

After only a month, this new regime has me generally feeling a lot better about myself and the way I treat my body.  Although Mike will wholeheartedly vouch for the fact that I haven’t curbed my potato chips addiction on weekends and I find it increasingly difficult walking past the Nutella aisle at the supermarket.  Sigh.  You have to live a little, no?

Just a minute in … May

Eating … brunch at Typika in Claremont (above) with Gem after the Zara Bryson car park sale last Saturday.  (And drinking coffee from a new local, Milk and Paper, which is nice, but maybe I am a little dark about paying $5 for a 12 ounce cup just because I’m buying it out in the ‘burbs.)

Reading … the New Yorker online, just until my hard copies start making welcome weekly appearances on my desk.  If I can’t be in New York City, at least I can read about it on a weekly basis.

Wishing … for a Nespresso machine.  And my Mum back from overseas.

Getting … excited and nervous about my next wedding dress appointment.  Hopefully my calico is being made as I type, and I will be able to resist talking about it to Mike for the next seven (seven!) months.

Weekend bits

What is becoming of me – I am posting pot plant pictures on my blog?  I am a garden person?  It seems so.  In recent weeks, Mike and I have been cultivating a little kitchen garden in the back courtyard, complete with dill, parsley, coriander, basil and chilli, as well as a lemonade lemon and a potted magnolia (which is not for the kitchen, but is beautiful nonetheless).  It is so handy having fresh, often-used herbs on hand in our back garden, and all the greenery has warmed up the little outdoor space.  I’ve got grand plans for more courtyard landscaping in the future (but not all at once, who knew that gardening is expensive?).

Long in advance, I had planned to take a day of leave today which, with the public holiday yesterday, has meant a lovely (super) long weekend. And just in time, following a particularly stressful couple of working weeks.  Highlights of the weekend so far have included Anzac Day breakfast at Hobart Deli (below), a few more wedding tasks ticked off the list, a playful afternoon with my nieces Emily and Lucy, a great gym session (what?) and a little Friday night dinner at Burgermeister (I die for their peanut butter choc shakes).  Looking forward to what the next half of this weekend holds.

Just a minute in … March

I know, it’s April!  But I missed my chance last month and I like writing up these little posts so let’s for a moment pretend it’s March.

Reading … the most recent edition of Kinfolk magazine (which I can’t seem to find anywhere in Perth, sigh).  Constant drool.

Looking … for bridesmaid dresses.  Choosing clothes other people have to wear is not at the top of my most favourite things list.

Joining … the gym!  It’s time to get healthy and fit (and I’m not going to lie, maybe lose a few).  New workout gear (including sneakers with pink shoelaces) hasn’t hurt my motivation.

Loving … the beautiful collection of fonts above (found here), this amazing watch, getting in the mood for winter dressing with The Sart, watching back-to-back old episodes of Silk, and hot cross bun dinners (I realise this last one is entirely inconsistent with the previous point – please don’t judge).

Lately

Everyone talks about always being so busy all of the time, and I have to say, I find myself saying the same thing a lot these days.  Between work, home, family, friends and keeping healthy, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of unplanned time squeezed into life.  This long Easter weekend has been a huge relief.  The end of March saw my work review (and budget) year come to a close, and I felt like I hadn’t seen my family in too long.

Mike and I spent the weekend seeing loved ones, spending time in the fading summer sun, eating (a lot), sleeping in, getting little jobs done around the house (including adding a few new household purchases) and generally enjoying the long stretch of free time.  It was lovely.

Because a post is not a post without images, some shots from our recent dinner at Gordon St Garage.  I highly recommend the roast beetroot salad … and the entire contents of the sweets cabinet.

Uncle Joe’s

Last week, Gemma and I wandered down to Uncle Joe’s Mess Hall on King Street for a little workday lunch.  Uncle Joe’s has had a bad rap in recent times, but we wanted to see for ourselves what the fuss was about.  Gem and I both enjoyed a mix of the three salads that were available, in the peace and virtual solitude of Uncle Joe’s little corner at the end of an alley off the quiet end of King Street.  Despite the controversy, I dug the decor and the general vibe, and lunch was pleasant enough.  Good job Joe, I’ll be back.