Isn't he AWESOME!!!

Source: TIME Magazine

"So?" — Dick Cheney, when told that two-thirds of Americans did not support the war in Iraq, arguing that polling should not dictate the war's conduct.

So I'm at the 5 month mark of my conversion to being a seafood-eating vegetarian, and strangely, it's getting hard again. Not sure if it's the festive season get togethers where delicious aromas and delectable dishes surround me, but I feel like eating meat again.

At the same time though, when I give it due consideration and think what "meat" product I'd actually like to eat, I feel a little queasy and put off by the whole idea.

What to do? What to do?

It's getting hot in here...

I was at a friend's house the first time I saw this ad. I was sitting on her couch conversing with her and her husband, when all of a sudden I went quiet, allegedly. I then started blushing a little, allegedly.

Saw the ad again last night whilst sitting on the couch with Nathan. All of a sudden I went quiet, allegedly. I then started blushing a little, allegedly.

Come to think of it, I do recall feeling a little feverish after that first occasion. Any clues as to why would be greatly appreciated...

Today's musical treats...

Made myself a CD today, so thought I'd share some of the tunes with you. Links take you to their You Tube videos.

Time is running out - Muse....my favourite band of all time

Leave it alone - Operator Please...an awesome and fresh Australian band

Mr Brightside - The Killers...bought their new album Day & Age yesterday and looking forward to playing it on high rotation

A-Punk - Vampire Weekend...undoubtedly my favourite album of the year

I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked - Ida Maria...this song is just so much fun and makes me want to jump around screaming the lyrics

I just can't get enough...

What are we addicted to...

The clothes or the act of shopping?

Hazy days...

I just had Chinese noodles for lunch, and as expected, I now feel like I've been smacked in the head with a baseball bat.

The MSG (mono sodium glutamate) is shooting its way through my bloodstream, causing a dense cloud of haziness to wash over me. My senses have dulled and the effects are similar to that feeling you get after downing a bottle of wine.

I've known MSG doesn't agree with me for some time now, but I'd never really delved further into it, so I thought I'd do a little google search and this is some of what I found:

• MSG is a salt of the amino acid glutamate
• Too much glutamate in the body leads it to change to GABA, another amino acid
• GABA, whilst being waved about as a potential alternative to ritalin and dexies, may be addictive. It has a slightly sedative effect, which helps induce relaxation and sleep, and it affects the same receptors in the brain as valium.

No wonder I'm feeling totally out of it!

I found a really good overview of MSG here, which I think is worth a read.

But maybe you should finish eating those noodles first!

In Blue by Michael Canetti

I love this print by Michael Canetti.

Yours for £70.00 from The Real Art Co.

It's what's on the inside...

The summer sun has finally popped it's head above the clouds, so out came the denim shorts I bought a few weeks back. They were so comfortable, I know I'll be virtually living in them for the next four months.

I was even more chuffed with my purchase when I went to wash them. Turning the shorts inside out, I found this on the inner pocket....

It's the detail that makes the difference, and even though this print serves absolutely no purpose (unless I decide to wear my shorts the wrong side out), I love knowing that someone, somewhere made an effort to put it there.

NEWS FLASH...

I absolutely MUST update my blog.

Just letting you know, I know, that I know I have to.

That's all.

Off to the ballet....

I'm going to see the West Australian Ballet perform The Nutcracker tonight - have been looking so forward to it!

Just hope I can keep my eyes open....it's been a looooong and busy week.

Where the Hell is Matt?

I heard about this "Dancing Matt" guy on the radio this morning, so thought I'd check out who he was.

Please watch the video above to remind yourself just how wonderful the world and its people i.e. all of us, can be when we remember that life is meant to be fun.

I wish for a world where all its inhabitants live in peace and unity; where skin colour, religion, language, nationality and anything that has divided us in the past no longer has relevance and is no longer an excuse to pass judgement .

Because no race is better than another.

No faith is truer than another.

And no person has the right to think themselves more important than another.

We are all one and the same.

Use your mouth to smile.

Use your hands to give.

And use your heart to love.

It takes great effort to remember the above in the midst of our busy lives, but imagine what a better world it could be if we all at least tried.

Tips for ladies....

I received this email a while back, and stumbled across it again today. It still made me smile so I thought I'd share in on my blog...

1. Aspire to be Barbie - the bitch has everything.

2. If the shoe fits - buy one in every colour.

3. Take life with a pinch of salt... a wedge of lime, and a shot of tequila.

4. In need of a support group? - Cocktail hour with the girls!

5. Go on the 30 day diet. (I'm on it and so far I've lost 15 days).

6. When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with it.

7. Let your greatest fear be that there is no PMS and this is just my personality.

8. I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here.

9. Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.

10. Don't get your knickers in a knot, it solves nothing; and makes you walk funny.

11. When life gives you lemons - turn it into lemonade, then mix it with vodka.

12. Remember every good looking , sweet, single male is someone else's ex boyfriend!

13. Now smile and send to any girl wasting time at work, suffering from a hangover, or just suffering from work that might need a reason to smile.

Feeling blue....

I simply cannot wait for warmer weather!!

Have a fabulous weekend :o)

Those sho(e)ots...

Photo Source: Just Jared

It's extremely rare that the divine Miss Bilson puts a foot wrong in the fashion stakes, but these open-toe ankle boot/shoes are just ghastly!

It looks like she's stepped into some kankles.........you know........fat ankles......you know.......ankles that aren't clearly differentiated from the knee......YOU KNOW!!!!!!

Anyway, I'd like to suggest that she wears a fat suit in her next movie role and has simply forgotten to take the feet off. That's the only way I can explain this look on her.

I'm sure millions will line up to buy a pair of these, but I won't be one of them.

I still love her though of course. She's just so darn elfin and adorable!

Jamie's Fowl Dinners...

I've decided to stop eating all meat and eggs.

Why?

Jamie Oliver's program on poultry farming aired in Australia on Wednesday night and I've never been so mortified in my life. Mortified because...

a) I eat chicken
b) I eat eggs
c) I would never in a million years have imagined that in the (chicken) egg farming process, male chicks are gassed to death in something called a dispatching chamber, within a day(s) of hatching. All those adorable little yellow fluff balls are just killed, simply because they're male, and can't lay eggs. To the industry, their lives have absolutely NO value at all.

I know this has been the reality for decades and it's naive of me to have never contemplated it before, but actually watching these innocent little creatures so desperately gasping for breath whilst being unknowingly murdered was just too much for me to handle. I just broke down in tears and vowed that eggs and chicken meat would never pass my lips again.

I mean, how could anyone kill something that looks like this?


Today is my third day as a pescetarian...I hope to continue this way for the rest of my life.

Hmmmmm........

Sienna, Sienna, Sienna, Sienna.......you're beautiful and all, but why would you parade naked with a married man who has four kids, the youngest of which is only 10 months old, when you know the world watches your every move? And I thought you were still shacked up and madly in love with Rhys Ifans. How quickly you move!

And Balthazar..........you should be thanking the powers that be for the resurrection of your career, and helping your wife look after your kids instead of prancing about with a slapper who gets naked any chance she gets.

I feel sorry for his wife and just don't understand why people have to be so heartless. Don't they learn how to express discretion in acting school?

Welcome princess Samarah...

One of my dearest friends had her first baby yesterday, and I get to meet her today - YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!

Little Samarah was born on her actual due date, which is the funniest thing in the world, as her mum is never on time for anything!

The world works in mysterious ways :o)

Congratulations Shelly & Sacha and a warm welcome to your exquisite bundle of joy.

Today's whinge(s)...

Whinge #1

I'm the first to admit I'm a coffee snob. Why else would I have just spent $11.80 on a short macchiato? Well, I didn't exactly pay that much for one coffee, but rather for three....in as many minutes...as I went in search of one that was palatable. Unfortunately they were ALL bitter as hell, so I am utterly dissatisfied and peeved that I wasted almost $12!!

Seriously, a good short mac is enough to send me into a child-like state, where I twirl with glee. It can make or break my mood - a sure sign that I'm an addict. I travel an extra 20 minutes to work twice a week just so the route I take bypasses a cafe that makes me a perfect short mac with half a sugar every time. I can feel the peace and tranquility come over me each morning as I take my first sip of the creamy liquid heaven . Unlike this morning, where my three attempts at scoring the perfect hit saw my face screw up with more creases than an unironed linen suit. And to top it off, I spilt half a cup of the bitter brew all over the gearstick in my car! Simply sensational!

The husband thinks it's a sign I should quit, but I like to ignore his suggestion. As a non-coffee drinker, what would he know, right?

Whinge #2

On another note, we have a council junk collection this week - it's our annual opportunity to stick all our unwanted crap on our verge for the council to collect and dump elsewhere. Anyway, I had just put the first few items on the verge, including husband's old and rusted bike, when a car with a trailer pulled up. A man emerged and started rummaging through the crap, only stopping when the bike seat caught his eye.

He proceeded to twist and pull at the bike seat with all his might, continuing even as I approached with more of our junk. And this is where my beef lies - I'm a supporter of recycling, and I'm glad this guy was offering the bike seat a new home, but I just think it's courteous to ask if you can take someone's rubbish when the rubbish owner is standing right in front of you, instead of just huffing and puffing away like a looter gone wild for goodness sake! It's not like I would've said "No, you can't have it."!!!

Maybe if I'd had a good coffee this morning, I wouldn't be so grumpy :o(

Aaaah well, good luck to him and his "new" bike seat. May they find eternal happiness.

This is very, very, very funny...

What? No shopping?

I was in Sydney last week for work and what a whirlwind trip it was. And you know how I know that it was?

I was in Sydney for 3 and a haf days during SALE SEASON and I didn't even go into one shop!!! Sacrilege I know, and I'm still trying to get over it by repeating the "I saved lots of money" mantra each morning, noon and night. It hasn't worked yet and I'm still kind of teary over the missed opportunities.....but I'm strong, so I'll recover :oD

My Dream #1

I had a dream I was pregnant and going into labour. But instead of going to the hospital, I went into a kitchen and Gordon Ramsay was looking after me. Hmmmm....not sure what that was all about. I don't even think he was a doctor. He was just, well, Gordon Ramsay...the chef. I love food and all, but I don't think eating a delicious meal would be high on the agenda during childbirth, even if it WAS cooked by Chef!

My Dream # 2

I was sitting behind Adam Levine (from Maroon 5) on a bus and randomly started massaging his scalp. WHY???? I have ABSOLUTELY no idea!!

I lead such an exciting life don't I? In my dreams maybe.

BTW - Bob Marley's Is This Love is streaming out of the Backpacker's Hostel next door to me right now. Sighhhhh.....wish I was lying poolside at a Four Seasons resort somewhere in the tropics, basking in the warm and brilliant sunshine, eating fresh pineapple and breathing in the clean ocean air.

Miss Goody-Two-Shoes...

I've been slack with adding a new post the past week and a bit because every time I tried, I was mesmerised by George and wanted him to be the first thing I saw each time I visited my blog :o)

But alas, I came across something interesting in today's West Australian newspaper, and thought I'd share it with you all. So what's so interesting? Well it's the origin of the phrase "Goody-Two-Shoes".

Not that it's a phrase I use, but it's one that's been used for a long time, since 1765 actually...so for anyone who's interested, here's the story behind it.

Goody-two-shoes is taken from a children's story, created in 1765 by Oliver Goldsmith.

The original title of the story?

The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes, otherwise called Mrs Marjorie Twoshoes, with the Means by Which She Acquired Her Learning and Wisdom, and in Consequence Therof Her Estate; Set Forth At Large for the Benefit of Those Who From a State of Rags and Care and Having Shoes But Half a pair; Their Fortune and Their Fame Would Fix, and Gallop in a Coach and Six.

SERIOUSLY!!! Imagine trying to market a book with that title!

Anyway, the story's main character is a poor child who only owns one shoe, but for being good, she was given a pair of new shoes. Her joy knew no bounds and she proudly showed them off to all and sundry, telling everyone she had "two shoes". In time, she acquired knowledge and became very wealthy...in other words she became smug.

So, that's how "good but smug" people came to be refered to as "a little goody-two-shoes".

Photos of the story weren't very exciting, so I thought I'd post this one instead:







Hey! It's my blog so I can :oD

The Bachelor...

Yes ladies....Mr Clooney is a single man once again.

Not sure why this information excites me, but it does.

He's just so DAMN handsome!

TV Dinners...

I recently discovered that I can't eat if there are animals on TV.

You know those nature documentaries where they show hyenas in their natural environs preying for their supper; zoomed in images of marsupials giving birth to their babies, or lions ripping chunks out of fresh carcasses?

If I'm sitting in front of the TV and eating my dinner, I just can't handle it.

Is that weird?

Grrrrrrrr...

I went to the bank the other day to change my loan arrangements, and when I asked if there were any fees associated with doing so, was told "no" as I had purchased a product for $340 that waived these fees.

Well wasn't I shocked when I checked my account this morning, to find that it had been debited $111.50!

So I phoned the lady I dealt with to query it, and her response was that it wasn't a bank fee...it was a government fee. THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT OK!!!!! Shouldn't banks be responsible for disclosing this information???

NOT happy!!!!!!!! >:o(

The classics...

I've decided I want to start reading more of the classics. I love reading in general, but I've not read much of the iconic works of the literary stalwarts. Take Jane Austen for instance. I love her stories, but I've only ever read one of her books - Pride and Prejudice. And Charles Dickens? I've read Great Expectations, but only because it was part of my year 12 curriculum, and if my memory serves me correctly, I only actually read half of it before turning to the Cliff's Notes for a summary!

Why do I want to read them? These stories have stood the test of time. Many of their themes are as relevant today as when they were written, and if they're not, they at least give us an insight into the thinking of the day. Every week, or even daily I'm sure, new novels are published, yet they flit in and off the shelves in an instant. You'll always find the classics in any book store in the world.


So with this thought in mind, I popped into the book store at Sydney Airport whilst waiting for my flight, and picked up a copy of J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. I didn't know anything about this book, nor the controversy that surrounded it when it was published in 1951. Having read it though, I can see why - whilst the subject matter, language and behaviour of the character wouldn't cause an eyelash to batter these days, it was pretty in your face for its time. Profanity, sexual references, blasphemy...it's got it all...imagine how that went down in 1950's America?!

Catcher in the Rye is essentially a first person overview of the life of a 16 year old boy, Holden Caulfield, on the brink of depression. It's set in late 1940's New York and recounts the 48 hours immediately after Holden's expulsion from boarding school - his experiences, his emotions, his though patterns, his opinions.

Despite the novel's worldwide popularity over the past 50 years, there has never been a film adaptation of it, not due to lack of interest, but rather the author's refusal to grant anyone the rights. Throughout the book though, I kept picturing Leonardo Di Caprio in the lead role and Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) playing Holden's baby sister.

So that's one classic down and hundreds to go! Any recommendations on which one I should tackle next?

Bel returns as a married woman...

Wow! It's been a while. I think I've been putting off posting again simply because it's been so long! I've missed it though. So where do I start?

Let's start with the wedding. The big day was almost two months ago now. It was awesome, and as everyone who's been through it will say, it went by in a blur.

Nothing beats being surrounded by the love of family and friends who've been in your life for so long. It created such intense emotion for the whole day, which probably explains why I turned into a blubbering mess the moment I stepped foot in the chapel! I was reasonably calm and collected the entire morning, so I have no idea where the uncontrollable sobbing came from! Needless to say, I was very embarassed!! All our guests were laughing though, so at least my tears were entertaining - hahaha :o)

Both my mum and dad walked me down the aisle, and that was just so very special. I'm very glad I chose to do it that way.

And Nathan, my groom, looked hot - and I mean that in both senses! He was wiping beads of sweat from his forehead as I approached the altar (LOL), and he looked absolutely gorgeous in his suit. Have a look for yourself...

I guess each of our reactions was a result of nerves, despite us having been together for almost 10 years already! But we did have about 200 pairs of eyes on us, so that's our excuse!

I wish we could do it all over again - it was just such a fun and brilliant day. Hope our guests feel the same.

And life as a married woman? Well, it's exactly the same as life as a "single" woman co-habitating with her boyfriend for six years, except we each have an extra piece of jewellery and share the same surname! Which basically means life with Nathan is still brilliant...wouldn't change a thing, for now anyway ;o)

I'm getting married tomorrow.....

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!

Fancy that...

I just went to text a message to my sister, and I thought it was kinda funny that when I want to text the word "EAT", the word "FAT" came up first on the list.

Gotta love predictive text!!

I wonder how many people are affected by these kind of subliminal messages?

Happiness vs Sadness...

Just found out that Heath Ledger's wake was held at Indiana Tea House in Cottesloe....that's where I'm having my wedding reception.

And the Chaplain who presided over his memorial service, is the same one who will be marrying N and I.

That's all.

Only five weeks to go...

Butterflies are fluttering...

Bank accounts are struggling...

Moodiness is rearing its ugly head...

Sleep is intermittent...

"Special" songs are spinning through my head...

Plus, I've just discovered that my hairdresser's left the salon I'm booked in to for the big day!!!

But, I'm still excited to marry my boy... 'cos he's lovely.

RIP Heath...

Shock. Sadness. Disbelief. Grief. And I didn't even know him.

I, together with many around the world, mourn the loss of such an amazingly talented actor.

Being a fellow Australian (and from his hometown of Perth), I am really, really, really saddened by this news of a local boy done good, yet taken from this world waaaaaay too early.

How many of us aspire to fame and fortune? How many of us entertain the thought that "if only" we lived a celebrity lifestyle or had millions in the bank we'd be happy? Heath's premature death is proof that happiness and satisfaction are not necessarily part of the "Fame & Fortune" package.

My heart goes out to his family and friends, especially his 2-year old daughter Matilda. I can't even begin to imagine what it will be like for her to grow up not knowing her father.

Update: I've just read that Heath Ledger's family found out about his death via the media!!!!!! What is this world coming to?? Is there no respect for others anymore??? The media have taken it too far this time. I am utterly disgusted.

It is a truth universally acknowledged...

Jane Austen is one of my favourite authors, so I wasn't surprised that I absolutely LOVED Becoming Jane - a movie based on her life.

James McAvoy is the most charming, romantic gentleman (can't wait to see him in Atonement) and Anne Hathaway is really quite brilliant - she does an impressive English accent and her pale, porcelain skin and gentle features make her perfect in the role of Jane. I can't believe she was the star of those awful Princess Diaries! She's come a long way.

I've actually only read one of Jane Austen's novels - Pride and Prejudice - but I've read it three times (and seen a few movie adaptations of her others). I think it's the romantic in me that loves her work so much, and I also appreciate how she portrays the strength of her female protagonists. They believe in romance, but they're also prepared to fend for themselves...much like Austen herself. A good way to be I think.

She is an inspiration.

Who inspires you?

Excuses, excuses...

It's been a while since I last posted, and I'll admit that this isn't even a "real" post, as I'm only writing with excuses as to why I've been so blog lazy.

Two words: Wedding Brain.

It's the same as Baby Brain, but involves flowers, invitations, cake and a dress I will never wear again! And it's damn stressful trying to juggle it all on top of work and day to day living.

15 March is the big day - yaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you're all well.

Catch you soon!