29 April 2011 - the Royal Wedding

As a fan of all things royal I must celebrate today with links and photos from the Royal Wedding. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked amazing and I would like to think that were I in there shoes I would have carried it off as well. My favourite thing, besides her dress, were the old school vows that I felt were such a reminder to those us not married of the commitment marriage is and why we would go into it.

What I find interesting as we see all of the post-wedding coverage is that it is always the same images but what we saw and experienced by going the slow way and watching the coverage was something quite different. Yes we spent at least 4 hours just watching what would otherwise by empty television but we did it together, we were part of the history making moment in our own little corners of the world.



First official photos are out now, including the one above with their young attendants in the throne room.

Must start with the great coverage on Hello Magazine. It has been my go-to resource for all things royal for a long time now and it didn't disappoint.


I got the official wedding programme from the official wedding website. The service was beautiful so its nice to have that record of the ceremony. This photo was newly released for the programme. Catherine looks unbelievable and William looks so happy you can only want the best for them.


Her tiara was amazing. It was subtle but so was her entire wedding look so it worked. There was enough bling to make everyone happy but it kept with the overall natural beauty of the wedding.


I loved that Maid of Honour Philippa (Pippa) Middleton also wore an incredible McQueen gown. Most particularly I loved the bridesmaid in white look. She looked amazing! I love the idea of white bridesmaids dresses. She looked amazing, you can be pretty sure no one else will match the bridal party this way and there is a tradition that attendants in white will protect the bride from "demons" which as a bride is important.


Ten points to the Prince of Wales web developers who already updated the website to reflect the marriage and new titles.

Although it makes me nervous that video like this would get out I loved the excitement of this verger.

For a touch of Britannia you can't go passed the amazing rendition of God Save the Queen. I feel for the Middleton's who stood across from the Queen as they sang.


Overall the wedding was a touching tribute to love and the magic of monarchy.

Images via: news.com.au; Fabsugar; The Knot; Weddingesque

26 April 2011

Having fun making Easter basket. Hard to tell but I went a little crazy with the glitter glue on these. It definitely adds something to them from my perspective, I probably should have resisted with the baskets for Dad, Beau, David, Anthony and Haz but too late. At least they have chocolate inside.

25 April 2011

I do believe this to be true. I often feel like there is an adventurous soul inside waiting to get out. Its just a general feeling of the fidgets. Sometimes in the past I have simply gotten a new job and other times I have gone on holidays.

I am lucky that as my parents live a few hours away going to them is often enough to cure the fidgets.

At the end of May Richard and my trip to New Zealand is another attempt to quiet them.

Image via

24 April 2011

There has always been something incredible about easter for me. Ok I will admit an extra long weekend is always a good thing but it's more than that.

Firstly I am one of the many that has a fear of dieing. Well actually I have a fear of being dead. I do think these are different. What I am afraid of is not being with the people who matter to me.

That someone would die for my sins is incredible. Now I am not selfish enough to think that when he died Jesus was thinking of me specifically. Rather I believe that Jesus thought of those other than himself, that he wanted the best for us and that he would go to extremes to ensure it. The only other people that care that much about me are my parents and Richard. It is that thought that makes Easter important and why today as people eat more chocolate than is good for us we should remember the original point of Easter.

Image via

19 April 2011

With only 11 days until the Royal Wedding we are starting to see a slew of Royal Romance/Wedding documentaries.

I watched one this evening on Charles and Diana's wedding. Charles and Diana had an amazing wedding. It was so romantic and really did for me set in my mind what a princess and a bride should look like.

As an adult I have seen other royals wed (include Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Camilla and Charles) all of them have built on what we first saw 30 years ago with Charles and Diana.

I look forward to seeing the traditional and the personal in the wedding of William and Kate. I also look forward to seeing how an event like this will be reflected in the online world. Today I read that the Royal YouTube channel will live stream the wedding. The British Monarchy's twitter account @clarencehouse will have live updates and I am sure that the world wide community will participate.

The whole "circus" (for want of a better word) will be studied in media courses and beyond for years. So let us just sit back and enjoy.

18 April 2011

I know that in our modern world it is so easy to flick someone a quick email to say hello but there is a lot to say for a handwritten letter in the post. This evening when I got home from work there was a letter in the mail box waiting for me. As soon as I saw it I knew the letter from was from Grandma S (my mum's mum). Her words were a timely reminder that the most important thing is family.

I love this photo. Its my Grandma and Grandpa I believe taken in the 50s or 60s. They are so happy and although I do not remember them ever being like that its funny to think the photos taken of me now may one day be unrecognizable to my grandchildren. But then, I think photos like that are so much more important as it reminds me despite the statistics some people, who really love each other will be together for a very long time.

17 April 2011

I realised today that all of my comfort meals (you know the food you eat when the world is getting a little too much) involve gravy. My favourite gravy is the classic Aussie brand Gravox

I don't remember my parents or grandparents ever using another brand and it may seem silly but if I try to use another brand I always stuff it up. I like my gravy thick and have managed to nail the perfect water to gravox ratio. Every other brand gives me trouble.

On a cold Sunday night its hard to go pass hot chips & gravy. Hmmmmmmm so bad for the heart but good for the soul. As I get ready to go to sleep, knowing I will have to face the office tomorrow I am glad to have had some real soul food to get me off to sleep.

Happy Sunday everyone

16 April 2011

As I so often love to do on a rainy Saturday afternoon (which today is) I was catching up on some reading. As I was reading A Beautiful Journey Arielle had what she refered to as a Weekly Daybook. I liked the questions she posed so thought I would take the time to do the same here

Outside my window ...
The rain has paused for the moment and I hear birds chirping. Since we are rugged up inside its so lovely to hear them enjoying the rain

I am thinking ...
Of the work week ahead. The boss is away and as we had hot cross buns to celebrate Easter together she advised the junior staff that I was the go to manager. A real sign that the boss respects me but a big responsibility.

I am thankful for ...
Time spent with Richard where neither of us has to work ... or talks about working

What I am learning ...
That as 30 knocks loudly on the door that it isn't a death sentence, my life isn't over and in fact there are so many amazing things in this world I still have to see.

I am going ...
to New Zealand for my birthday in just over a months time and I really need to get planning. Another meeting with the travel agent tomorrow to go over some more details.

I am hearing ...
my head is full of Bruno Mars

I am hoping ...
to master the skill of budgeting. I can do it at work, why can't apply it at home

Around the house ...
all I see are chores to be done and no motivation to do them. Though if I look closer I realise the chores are simply a sign that we have a home here, Richard and I, together

One of my favourite things ...
Is curling up on the couch, with a good book, drinking a cup of tea.

A few plans for the week ...
This week I have to get easter presents for my nephew and nieces, a mothers day present for my beloved Mum and a birthday present for my sister Ellen. I also need to sort out Richard's present (its ordered but not here yet which always makes me nervous

A picture ...
My parents always said that this was my mug because when I was little I looked like the girl. If I were to be brave enough one day to get a tattoo this will be one of them.

15 April 2011

I am grateful for traditions, and the opportunity for new traditions.

As an avid fan of TRH the Crown Prince Couple I was looking today at christening photos for their new born twins. The couple have baptised their three-month-old twins Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander and Josephine Sofia Ivalo Mathilda.

The tradition that caught my eye however was that once again Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (via Tasmania) was wearing the same hair piece.

The tradition started at Prince Christians christening on the 21st January 2006


We saw it again at Princess Isabella's christening 1 July 2007


And finally we saw it at yesterdays christening


Personally, I adore the headpiece and should I ever be married have very much considered wearing something similar. Mary is by far my favourite princess, of course as a fellow Australian I am slightly biased.

Thank you to TRH Crown Prince Couple website where I found the first two images and news.com.au for the final photo

13 April 2011

A Russsian man Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth.

If you can, really think about that. A man, in a metal ball, in 1961 willingly trusted in science to attempt something never done before and go into space. What must he have been thinking as he prepared to go? What must he have expected to see? Did he expect to come home?

Heck, I can barely handle getting on a airplane but this is so much more than that. Makes one realise all that we take for granted in this world and all that was sacrificed to make it "normal".

The new film First Orbit has just been released. Its not actual footage from the first space flight (as the director so wisely says Gagarin was too busy surviving to line up the perfect shot). Read the article National Geographic or watch the film. Even if it isn't actual images from the first flight it is an amazing piece of cinema.

Now, I think we should all go outside and look up. Look at the majesty that is above us and feel privileged to have been alive at all.
Image via

12/13 April 2011

Since its the middle of the night I'm not sure which day this post belongs too.


I am trying to do my best to save but sometimes I need to be reminded.

11 April 2011

This week it was Margaret's turn to have dinner with Richard and I. After Easter I will head to Muswellbrook to see my family. Boy do I love family time.

My brother and his family and recently my sister and her finance got new homes. I hope to get to see them both on the next trip.

Count down is also on to the Royal Wedding. I am looking forward to sharing that with my mum, on the big TV, eating and drinking well. Sounds like a good night.

7 April 2011

Sometimes this is really the only solution to a sad day ... today I did my best to be awesome.

Oh and if you can't be awesome How I Met Your Mother goes a long way to cheer me up

Image via

6 April 2011

Seven years ago a scared woman (me) enrolled at UNSW. I never dreamed that I would meet two of the most important people I would ever met. One being Richard and the other my darling friend Espen. Funnily enough it was a gentle nudge from Espen that made me realise that Richard could be more than just a mate at uni.

Espen has been there through the good, the bad and the funny. I remember the hours he and I spent just talking whilst at uni over a coffee. European royals, films, how we thought Harry Potter would end (still sad HP didn't end up with Hermione), past men, Take That, Madonna, Britney and Scandinavia. He was there for my nephew's first Christmas (which is where the photo was taken) and sending his love from afar when my aunt and uncle passed away.

Even though he lives in Oslo and I haven't seen him in years I miss him everyday. I had hoped to get to Europe for my birthday this year but it just doesn't seem to be in the cards, hopefully next year.

To me birthdays are about celebrating just how wonderful it is that someone was born. I am glad you were born Espen and even more glad that you decided to come all the way to Australia to get a media degree.

5 April 2011

Sometimes life is about being a grown up and doing grown up things. Working, paying bills, eating right, drinking enough water, getting older you know the drill.

And sometimes life lets you forget about the serious stuff and have dinosaurs made of chicken and tomato sauce for dinner.

Ahhhhhhh, tomato sauce tar pit!

4 April 2011

Today I have to give a shout out to Skype.

Living a few hours away from my parents and having a pretty busy job its fantastic to be able to actually see my parents once a week. It will never be the same as physically being in the same room as them but still it is pretty cool.

Now if only my dad would remember to always put on a shirt :)

1 April 2011

I am grateful for two things today:

1. no one pulled any pranks in the office on April fools (possibly because no men work for FIA)

2. I found an awesome gift for Richard for our anniversary! We are today 1 month shy of our 5th anniversary so must get cracking to be ready in time. I am so thrilled with it but just in case he ever reads my blog I will keep my little secret for now.

Happy Friday!