Chelsea's Carnival.

When the overexcited birthday girl kept yelling 'I WANT TO GO TO THE MIRRORS!!!' the anticipation was a little one-sided.

But when we walked through the Luna Park jaws and saw the lights, mirrors and (you know me) those skies every grown woman quickly turned into a screaming, giggling girl. 

Somehow nine years have passed and the birthday celebration wave is on again, only this time it's the number 30 stealing the show.

And Chelsea always knows how to take something to the next level. What started as a beautifully formal ladies lunch quickly stumbled into hens territory. Utterly brilliant.

Girls just wanna have fun.

Happy Birthday, Brother.

I have only one sibling: a brother. His name is John and he's three years older than me. He is very, very tall with ice-blue eyes and a wicked sense of humour.

Today is his birthday. We spent the evening together, just us two - a rare event - and it was just lovely. I baked him a cake (yes, a rhubarb and cinnamon tea-cake) and we went out for dinner in a lovely courtyard with copious amounts of rope lighting. Which, of course, suits me just fine! It seems so strange to think almost 30 years have passed since I arrived into his world. But he's still wearing the same football colours (just in a slightly larger size...)

Happy birthday big brother. xx

Cruisin'.

Ahoy m'loves! 

Recently I went to Canberra for my darling aunt Tamara's 50th birthday party - where we cruised around Lake Burley Griffin.  It was the most beautifully still evening and as night fell the colours, scenery and company just kept improving. 

It was a typewriter!

I spent this afternoon with one of my most treasured people in this vast, strange world.  As I mentioned this morning it was my dear, dear friend Sarah's birthday today and her incredible mama made her a Women's Weekly birthday cake.

For those of you not inhabiting our great Southern land, the Australian Women's Weekly is our grandmother of magazines and during the 70s and 80s the Weekly cake book was a staple in kitchens around the country.

The cakes were ridiculous (ly amazing) and were requested by kids all over the country.  Even my wholemeal flour/carob/no preservatives loving mother allowed us a couple over the years.

And so, today, in her 30s, a certain big-little-girl relived glorious moments many moons ago (see first pic) and scored herself a typewriter.  All the more poignant given that said super-talented girl is a ridiculously talented (and published) writer.  Yes, it was as deliciously sugary as you would expect.  Yummmmy!!  

Happy birthday darling unicorn Sarah.  Thankyou for babysitting my plants, buying me countless trinkets I don't need but have to have, loving hydrangeas, adoring craziness, adopting my parents, being the best wingwoman a gal can have, holding the tissues, keeping my secrets, sitting in the passenger seat and, most of all, for coming home. 

And here's to 2006.  Of all of the publishing houses in all of the world you had to walk into mine.

Another birthday.

Last weekend I spent part of my birthday driving from Australia's capital city, Canberra, to my folks' place via Victoria's High Country.  We stopped briefly at the Tumut Dam where I snapped this quick pic.

So, as I celebrate one week of being 29 my darling friend Sarah is celebrating her own birthday today. 

We're going to have an afternoon tea with a special Women's Weekly birthday cake cooked by her mama. Oh my goodness. What do you think it could be? A typewriter? A castle?  Perhaps the classic caterpillar. I'm forecasting a sugar coma.

Happy Sunday! 

Full circles.

I started this blog one year ago today (well really tomorrow because of time differences!)

It was my birthday and I was living in Los Angeles eating cupcakes and being thoroughly spoilt.  Well, today it's again my birthday and I'm now living back in Australia.  I have again been thoroughly spoilt but in very different ways. 

A lot can happen in a year.  A lot has happened in the past year.  Good, bad but thankfully not much ugly. 

I'm dubbing 2012 the Year of the Love.  Not romantic love (although who ever says no to that?), but just love in general.  Passion, inspiration, friends, family, dream-chasing, creating, relaxing, enjoying, revelling, exploring, adventuring.  Love. 

Happy wishes to my birthday brothers too: Elvis and Bowie.  Doesn't get much better does it?

p.s. Yes, that's me (or Ownself....) giving a random birthday lecture circa 1985/6.

firsts.

It's my birthday today.

I have a very, very full heart...

And we're just one week into a new year so what better time to start? Start anything and everything really. I'm chasing dreams this year. 2011, here we go.