Daddy's Little Girl

In a much better version of the reality show ‘Trading Spouses’ my mother and I have traded husbands for a few weeks. My dad is in Los Angeles visiting while my husband is staying with my mother in Australia for his acting career and I feel so spoiled because I get my daddy all to myself!!!

Every day I leave home for work after a run to Home Depot, so that we can get materials for my father who is working on our home renovations during the day. Then later he helps me pack orders and figure out what we need to the do the next day. How brilliant is that.

So in dedication to my dad, I have been searching for the perfect item for my father (even thought its Mothers Day this weekend) and this is what I have found.

Dad Appreciation Cookie Bouquets! After a big day in the yard and then the warehouse I think my dad would love these themed cookies. The slogans are perfect “Hard Working Dad” and “Cool Dad Zone” and they are baked fresh every day.

http://www.cookiesbydesign.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=B193

The Dick Hoyt story is another reason to love dads. Knowing my father, I have no doubt that he would do the same for my brothers and I so I seriously think a story like this is worth taking the time to read.

http://cjcphoto.com/can/

Finally – for new dads, there is now enough great stuff out there that you can still look like a man while taking your child out in public – you don’t have to push the stroller with a floral diaper bag and pink bottle. Companies like Diaper Dude are making cool stuff and changing an industry that needed some fresh approaches to product.

Diaper Dude

Dad – thanks so much. I love you.

Reading Green

I love reading. There just isn't enough time in the day to read as much as I would like, but when I do get the time, it feels like a little luxury that I just melt into.

I get lost in books and love the worlds that they can take me too - and it doesn't matter whether its fiction, non fiction, children's stories or a newspaper. They all are very special to me - after all I grew up in a family that would all sit down together for a meal with reading material in hand (even if it was the cereal box!)

Hence, I have plenty of books and am already collecting delightful children's books for our future child! That is why I love the book ends from Cocoon Couture!

These delightful book ends come in a choice of Early Bird or Cheeky Squirrel designs (I have both in my children's bookcase) and they are beautifully crafted cut out designs with the simplicity of the wood grain allowing them to shine.

They are made from environmentally friendly ply wood from plantation forests; beautifully finished with non toxic varnish safe for children and the environment and they come in adorable recycled cardboard packaging!

Best of all - they will be available for sale next month at Cute-ture and in the best children's boutiques in the USA!

P.S. If you have a book that you love - let me know so I can add it to my list of reading material!

Is Everybody Pregnant??

I recently made the bold statement to my staff, "what is everybody pregnant now" after hearing that another one of my friends has very happily been declared knocked up.

It literally has been 12-months in my life where all my girlfriends are getting the wonderful news that their family is growing. While I realise that it is most likely my age (mid 30's is obviously the time) and its exactly what I need for a business based on baby products, it has come as such a surprise to so many friends pregnant at the same time.

I called one friend yesterday who is on bed rest hoping that junior won't arrive until the weekend, then my husband checked in to see if we can go this weekend to visit his sister who is due next month, and then tonight my sister in law calls to let me know number 2 is on its way! All in three days.

While none of this is actually very unusual really, it has been a little bit awkward at times - and mostly for my friends, who knowing how much Joey and I have been through to try and get our family started, stumble over how to tell us they are pregnant.

So I thought my blog may be the best way to share how this feels especially for those of you who find yourself in either position.

I am THRILLED to have those I love happy - and extra excited that I will have a new baby to spoil rotten even if its not my own (actually I think I would be a strict mum so its much better to go crazy on my friends babies and buy them loads of toys and clothing). Definitely, it makes me reflect on my own situation but never does it interfere with my happiness for those who are sharing their special news. It just makes me even more anxious to be the one to share that news someday soon too.

So in answer to my own question - no not everybody is pregnant. But I for one, am very happy to be surrounded by those that are and share in their joy and futures. This is one Aunty that you want around!

Real Coffee in Downtown Los Angeles

Cute-ture recently moved our offices to downtown Los Angeles in the fabulous old International Mart. On the 11th floor we have incredible views of downtown and a loft space that gives us great warehousing and a showroom in a funky space.

And while our new Cute-ture location was amazing on its own, a weekend stop at a salad bar near our office, led us to Café Corsa, a recently opened coffee shop that simply has the best coffee in Los Angeles. I have been describing it since as my ‘new piece of heaven on earth’.

Joey and I are huge Urth Café fans (the other great coffee place in LA) but since moving into our new home and office downtown, it was too much of a trek to get there for a regular hot ‘cuppa’ (Australian for coffee – much like the American ‘joe’).
Café Corsa, which recently opened near USC has serious coffee for those who love their coffee like they love their books and arts (or wine).

The Downtown News (LA’s Downtown weekly online update) gave rave reviews to Café Corsa and its owner Rick Weiche this week – and as a regular of two days, Rick already knows Joey and I by name!

If our new office isn’t enough, to make us bounce of bed and head to work, now we have the best coffee I have had in the USA right around the corner which on its own, is enough to inspire me for the day ahead!

Café Corsa, 2238 S. Figueroa St., (213) 746-2604 – parking available at meters or in the parking lot at the location.

Its Time to Think Christmas (or other religious or non religious gift giving event....)

Its time to think Christmas (or other religious or non religious gift giving event…)

In the past I have been one of those organized people that actually likes to get my gift giving shopping out of the way 8 months ahead of Christmas. It was a combination of not liking crowded spaces and not shopping under pressure especially when our busiest season in business is December.

I love the holidays so knowing that all I had to do for Christmas was gift-wrap meant I could actually expend my energy on parties and catching up with friends. But even better than getting in any buying gifts early I have been so happy to discover the gift of charity – not only can you do this last minute, but you really feel good about it.

I suggested to my family two years ago that perhaps instead of trying to send gifts across the world in the crazy mail season, that we could forgo the gift wrap (save a tree), not need to use the excess gas (driving to the store, driving for 45 minutes trying to get a parking spot, ship it via a postal van, airline and back to postal van for arrival at our door) and instead find a charity gift for each other that truly reflects how much we love each other.

This year I sent my family the gift of Operation Smile. I figured that when I think of my family, it makes me smile, and hence it truly reflected how I felt.

Throughout the world, Operation Smile volunteers repair childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate for sustainable healthcare systems for children and families. Together, with donations they create smiles, change lives and heal humanity. I couldn’t possibly give my family anything better than this!!

My family was all thrilled to receive this and I was thrilled to receive their gifts of charity as well. Its pretty cool knowing that the gift my little brother gave me for Christmas is providing a small remote villager in China, an annual income he can live off through the sales of the wool that the sheep in my name provides them.

Yes you heard right – my brother gave me a sheep!

I thought it was brilliant though am a little worried how he decided that it reflected his thoughts of me….

But then again the year before I got a goat!

So – get the holiday engines in gear and I challenge you to find the perfect charity gift for your family this year! I wonder where I can get a pig…..

Cute-ture staff spent the weekend working at the Los Angeles Fashion and Gift Market at the California Mart in downtown LA. The venue is normally the home of showrooms but they opened their doors to a handful of selected companies to show our ranges over 4-days.

One of the delights of these shows is meeting other wonderful entrepreneurs who run companies based on the same green and conscious principles that we live by. They inspire me and their wisdom and advice helps us continue to move forward as quickly as we have been.

Two such ladies – Deena Ramadan from an Australian company called Ramalama (pronounced rum-a-lum-a) and Ali Hui from Babu / Jubi based in New Zealand were also showing at the Cal Mart and have the most delightful ranges.

Ali is the most stylish woman and started her company in 2002. A mother and businesswoman, she is a wealth of knowledge on child safety and keeping dangerous chemicals from her product range.

Her baby bed wear and bathroom range is extensive and impressive. Based on neutral colors with a European influence, her sheets are made from 100% cotton using water based bleaching process! This makes them thicker and softer than the average t-shirt style sheets. Her range includes sheet sets, sheet separates, blankets, sleepwear, wraps, clothing, towels and face cloths.

Check out Jubi at:

Jubi


Ramalama is a beautiful company that features sensible but sexy maternity lingerie and the most amazing diaper bags (I know as I bought one and am proudly using it as my handbag right now). All those pockets make it so much easier to find things in my big bag!

They also have a neutral baby range that modern minded parents will love. Available in Giggles and other stores, I highly recommend her bags!

http://www.ramalama.com.au/nappy.html

What a Week (aka media frenzy)

I won’t cover the weekend again since I have already blogged on about it, but I have to say what a week! In short….

Our FLATOUTbears were featured on the Montel Williams show where he had a good laugh about them and said “they do things differently in Australia”. Well Mr. Williams – yes we do!

Then I was interviewed on The Creative Mind. A radio show hosted by Eric Spencer on this very blog. To listen to the segment visit his site:

http://www.creativemindbehind.com/audio/index.php

The Oobi Baby range was featured on The Insider with Joey styling the 3-year star at the store Petite Tresor in West Hollywood. She was absolutely darling in red (just like all those grown up girls at the Oscars).
http://www.theinsideronline.com/news/2008/03/16407/index.html

And finally…..we were chosen by a wonderful show for a room renovation for the Fine Living Network, which will happen next month.

Throw in a photo and quotes on page 7 & 8 in the Hollywood Reporter (with my co-panelists talking about Australia) at ShoWest and that rounds out a busy week!!

Did I mention I was in Los Angeles, New York City and Las Vegas as well….

Weekend Warrior

It is hard to believe that in the last 36 hours I have been from Los Angeles to New York to Las Vegas and back to Los Angeles and managed to not feel stressed about any of it. I know for some people that sounds terribly glamorous and I would love to play that up for you... BUT the truth is it was not entirely planned that way and now I am exhausted and ready to go to bed!

On Friday I was due to fly to New York so that I could set up our booth for the ENK Children's Club show. March is the biggest event of the year and armed with Joey and another three workers, we were due to get in late Friday evening ready to get set up the following day. The other four took an earlier flight on Friday and as I had work in LA to finish I was meant to leave on the last afternoon flight. Meant to....

I had raced home to grab my luggage after a very frustrating trip to Staples where I couldn't find a single person on the floor to get me a removable disk drive from a locked cabinet and then after finally talking the person at the register into leaving the long line of people waiting to pay, I was finally out the door and rushing to the house now running late. Once home, the phone started... a messenger dropping our samples in at the show didn't know where to go. I directed him and then he called back as GES wouldn't accept my box. I told him to drop it at my booth. He called back. No one was there so he couldn't leave it. I raced to the computer and called the show organisers who assured me they would accept it. They didn't. To cut a frustrating story short, I then left the house late and hit peak hour on the 405 and 10. Most simply put, I parked on the freeway with my closest million commuters. At that point, I chose to accept my situation and the stress evaporated.

I missed the flight and left 5 hours later on the red eye! So straight off the plane to the show for set up. With the full team on board, we set the stand up and finished at around 10pm. A late dinner and finally sleep at 2am. Up at 7am to finish set up ready for doors opening at 9am! By 1pm I was off and headed back to the airport (after a very successful morning of sales of course) and on my way to Showest in Las Vegas.

I arrived in Vegas late last night and got up early for rehearsals ready for a 9am Australian panel to talk about tax incentives and filming in Australia. By 11am, I was done and packing and heading back to the airport so that I could be home in time for a television show that was coming to our house to consider our renovator for a Room Renovation!

The rest of tonight has been spent getting orders ready for shipment tomorrow and a full day in the office...

So glamorous - I don't think so! But I am not complaining as I have chosen this life and love the returns it gives me. I am ready though for a very good nights sleep!

Oh... the new Oobi Baby and Alimrose Designs samples are AMAZING!!

Someday

This morning I picked up one of our new books that has come in and glanced through it. It is a beautifully illustrated hardcover storybook for children and I found that half way through it that I just needed to share it. So I called Joey in and made him (my husband) settle in so I could read him the story.

The book was written by Alison McGhee and illustrated by Peter Reynolds and is a touching journey of a mothers dream for her child. It starts with her simply talking to her baby and then envisioning and sharing her someday dreams for her child.

Quite literally, this simple story has such powerful ode to the potential of love and life that I started to choke up on the last page and then looked up to find my husband teary as well.

I just wished I had ordered more for our store as I think I will be giving a lot of these away to the people I love! Absolutely the most beautiful and moving children’s book I have read this year.

Moving the Fluffy Kids

I have had two wonderful weeks with my father (aka Dad) in town to help us finish moving. It’s only been two months since we bought the new place…so I guess it we were overdue to actually pick up/pack up and get settled.

I had some concerns about moving the two pussycats – Roadie and Bob – as both are rescues that come with loads of hang-ups. With Dad’s help (who is as crazy about animals as I am) we moved them in and they adjusted so quickly I was shocked.

Day one was spent in the bedroom – under the bed for Bob and under the covers for Roadie. Day two – Bob emerged and started his new adventure and every now and then Roadie would pop his head out to see if his nightmare was over.

By day three, they were both on the adventure of a lifetime and the boxes, packaging and furniture were all explored and inspected with new places to hide and play in quickly established.

Dad was sleeping in our new living room, which comes with amazing pocket doors, which Bob has an opinion on. If you close the doors, Bob will stand outside (or inside as the case may be) and mew until you open then. He promptly crosses to the other side and if you close them after him, he turns around and mews to go back through them. Needless to say, we are now all sleeping with doors open.

I found the most adorable cat beds in New York by a company from Vermont called Hepper who make ‘nests’ for cats and dogs. The nests come in a ground version and a stand type version (the stand version reminds me of a space ship taking off). I wanted to buy one then and there however my husband who has more common sense than I when it comes to animals pointed out that my bags were already more than full and I would have to carry it back. Needless to say I have been daydreaming about this cat bed during our recent nights of door mewing kitties and can’t wait to get my Hepper beds.

Check out their site: www.hepperhome.com - simply Cute-ture for pets.

Still FLATOUT in love

Just over two years ago, I saw the cutest teddy-bear ever. Working in the film office, one of my co-workers walked in with a FLATOUTbear and asked if it was something I think celebrities may like. Well forget the celebrities - for me it was love at first site.

Not much later, I was back in Australia for work and had dinner with Prue and Sarah (the most delightful sisters behind the FLATOUTbear) and I liked them almost as much as the FLATOUTbear. Hence the launch of Cute-ture. This was our first product and now with so much more in our stores that I adore, I am still as in love with this adorable teddy as on that first sighting.

In fact, a Milk FLATOUTbear has just made his way onto our bed. I am not really one to have teddy-bears on my bed, but in our new house, with so much going on, and feeling a little overwhelmed with life and very tired, it was the bear (named Lindor) who I chose to add to our bedroom for secret little cuddles between renovations....

Today I went back onto the FLATOUTbear website and was so excited to find my nephew Jude featured! Check out the link on the title and look for Jude and his bear Roadie.

Taxi's across the globe

One of the things I occasionally struggled with in Australia was taxi-drivers that wanted to have a good chat. Now its not that I don’t understand the need for them to chat – its pretty boring sitting in a car all day and the brain goes numb from little interaction, but rather, after getting off a long distance flight or having just had a stressful day in the office, sometimes the last thing you feel like is an in-depth conversation with a person you don’t know in a small space.

Especially when they tell you their politic views which are vastly different from your own – and as a young woman (with a set of strong political views herself), it is a challenging situation to not argue when you are alone in a car with a complete stranger who is passionate about things such as ‘women not working’ (I am not kidding – after a long day, that was one of the topics my cabbie needed to discuss).

So where is my blog going with this– well here in the USA I have discovered a new cab driver – the New Yorker! These one’s don’t actually talk to you but just talk. At first I kept trying to understand what they were saying, and even enquired to be sure they asked me something, only to learn they are immersed in a conversation with some unknown person on the other end of an earphone. This conversation seems quite one way, since there is no break for the person at the other end to be responding.

The airport is a good 45 minutes to an hour from the airport, and Cute-ture takes me to New York 4 – 5 times a year, so after a few years of these taxi rides, I have realized that in fact I don’t have the same cabbie every time but rather there must be some test all cabbies do to see if they can talk non stop for 45 minutes in a mumble without a breath in between.

As for Los Angeles Cabs – well I think there may only be one cab in all of LA…they are very rare to see (not to mention to actually get one) so if you see it – jump in!

New York, New York

Cute-ture took New York by storm this week, showing our lovely little people's luxuries at the New York Gift Show. The show is known as 17 miles of aisles...Quite overwhelming to the senses! That being said, it is a wonderful place to be inspired, find unique items and shop for one's store!! And happily for us, it seems we inspired and were unique enough to have a very successful show.

Cute-ture was in the Metropolitan Pavilion which we love (so much more than the enormous Javits Center) mostly because there is a great French coffee shop - called Telegraphe Cafe next door which actually makes an extremely good latte. They also have soup and sandwiches and are not at show prices (as in not so overpriced that our entire profit from a $20000 sale is spent on a sandwich for lunch). New York is somewhat known for its coffee but as a coffee snob - I have to tell you, its awfully difficult to find something that an Aussie or Italian would consider drinkable...sorry New York - but your coffee sucks. So finding a 'cuppa' next door at a reasonable price was quite a find indeed.

The other bonus of the Metropolitan Pavilion is that the Container Store is around the corner. For those of you not familiar with doing tradeshows, the biggest winners in the tradeshow business are Ikea and The Container Store where it is cheaper to buy your stand (display cases, bookcases etc) than to rent it from the show organizers. This is an international standard mind you - buy a clothing rack at The Container Store for $30 or rent one at a show for $110....What would you do???

The funny thing about each show we do, is that the little finds we have - such as the cute cupcake containers (found at $1.99 at... The Container Store), to put our handsqueakers in, become as hot an item as the squeakers themselves. I guess that makes us somewhat successful merchandisers and the store must wonder why they have a sudden rush of buyers wanting those funny looking cupcake containers. Last show it was miniature plastic chandeliers that run on batteries which I used to dress up bookshelves turned into little clothing cupboards that were the hot display show item. Inspired indeed.

So New York rocked - and now we are back in LA contemplating shipping all those orders or moving house.... Oh the joys of being snowed under - even if it only snowed once in New York.

Cute-ture than my house

After an entire weekend of incredibly heavy rain in Los Angeles, it is great to see some sunshine today. The plan had been to move into our house yesterday....BUT we didn't quite make it. Instead we spent a lovely long weekend (I took Monday off for Australia Day) working to bury our plumbing work in the backyard in torrential rain. I guess that's the only way to do it...mud mud mud.

Then because it looked like to was letting up, we bought some grass seed and Joey was given the task of evenly sprinkling it across the yard. Somehow though, when I went outside to see his hard work, it seems he got a little carried away, and I have grass seed in every garden and surface in the yard. I will have very green grassy gardens!

We continued filling in our Koi Pond with soil to make it our new vegetable garden (also a green grass oasis with the grass seed) and finally we finished putting up the chandeliers in the house. They are beautiful!

Cute-ture is never far from mind though, and Monday morning was spent getting out orders as we prepare for our new Oobi stock - arriving this week and in-stores in two weeks. We have had lots more media requests for samples and I have no doubt Oobi Baby is on its way to be a staple in the 0 - 4 year wardrobe.

Big news - J Lo ordered our Minimink Bears for her twins!!! 16 of them. I cannot wait to see them cuddled up with their Minimink bears. Adorable.

So from celebrity buyers to knee deep in mud - we have it all at the moment!

Chaos, Cute-ture and an adorable little red dress

So I realise I have been a little slow on the blog updates but somehow life just got in the way! Between organising a week of film events and having a tradeshow taking place concurrently, I also had Cute-ture to run and a house to renovate. Thankfully two of those things have now finished and life is slowing down to our more normal hectic pace. For about 6 days - I only saw my husband between 11.00pm and 6.00am and most of that was with my eyes closed. I won't even mention how unhappy our two kittens have been and they are now determined to get make up cuddle time.

Cute-ture has been growing at a rate of knots and I am so excited that our new range of Oobi Baby is ordered and on its way to the USA. Cute-ture was featured in Parents Magazine this month - a full page with our Oobi Baby 1950's Party Dress in red, and I just can't wait to get them in stores. They are simply adorable!

The Cute-ture website is about to get a big update with a lot of new product including Australian jewelry that is just incredible. I hand picked $20,000 dollars worth of jewels over the weekend and I just wish I could keep all of it. So beautiful.

And finally - our house renovations continue - photo's coming later in the week...

I'm SOOO 70's

I am so excited as I have discovered the most delicious bean bags ever!! One our my stores asked me to look into a company called Cocoon Couture from Australia that was in need of a partner in the USA. We did - and my 1970's heart - leapt out and whammo - we are now bringing these delightful vintage inspired (but very modern) bags to the USA. My samples arrived a few days ago and blew my mind!! If only they came in adult size..... Oh that's right - I run a children's company.

Each bean bag cover features quirky critters in vintage fabric applique on pinwale cord colours that blend in with any décor and they also have matching wooden bookends, and a fabulous tree (I wonder what Joey will say when it finds it in our room). They will be up at www.cute-ture.com later this month and in stores across the USA very soon and perhaps a few in our new house as well.....

Funny thing I just have to mention though - beans bags don't really have beans in them but since Joey thought they did - he may get a lentil bag for his birthday!

You Did What!

It is now January 2nd and I am heading back to work after a week of home renovations - oops I meant holidays.. And I am exhausted! In the space of one week we sanded, stained and varnished the floors of our new house, cut back the garden and put in new plants, rewired a large portion of the out of date wires, knocked out most of the kitchen and moved the previous owners junk and trash out of the house and off the street where it had been placed. And for all that - I managed to also lose just one pound.

I hopped on the scales today - knowing that when I got on them just over a week ago for the first time in many months that they must have been broken. So today I fully expected that surprising number to be about 10 less... And it was only 1 less which means that last year I really did indeed put a whopping 15 pounds on. Ouch. So - having made no resolutions this year, I realised this morning that something had to change. I can no longer live in Los Angeles and pretend I am on holidays. I really live here and I really have to watch my diet.

I have always been a strong proponent of "don't complain, do something about it", and all my excuses of running a company and having no time, just won't cut it. So I packed my gym gear today and at lunch went for a run. It hurt. A lot. But... I feel so much better for it now that its done. No more watching 'The Biggest Loser' while eating my caramel pie. So this year, as well as running Cute-ture, renovating a house and finalising our adoption - I am going to get my butt back into shape. And because I don't believe in doing anything in small ways - I signed up after my 3 mile run for a marathon! 2008 here I come.

A Heater Light for the Bathroom

In my next career I am going to design gorgeous and varied designs of heater/ventilation/lights for bathrooms and make them available in hardware, lighting, electrical AND bathroom design stores. I spent 8 of today's valuable hours driving from place to place trying to find a bathroom heater/ventilation unit for our bathroom ceiling.

What I found was the same HUGE plastic looking unit that would need to replace the location of our existing leadlight fixture in the bathroom. I just couldn't do it.

Our electrician, who has been working in our house for three days suggested we get a heater and ventilation unit for the bathroom given it is so cold in there. I mean - it is really ice cold in there. Taking a bath in there would be like jumping in a hot tub in the middle of an ice storm! We think its a great idea but I had no idea at the time I said I would rush out and find one so it can go in while he is there, that it would be so difficult.

I just can't believe that in 2007 (soon to be 2008) that they don't have these units in some form that are display worthy or at least discreet so a plastic looking unit doesn't have center stage. Am I really asking too much? I am sure we had better units in Australia back when I lived there - and I would be happy to go there an find one but the power conversion would be a headache. For my family and friends reading this in Oz, remember those four bulb units that heat up - they don't have them here or at least not that I could find in 18 stores in Los Angeles??? I did eventually find a two bulb unit but no one had it in stock - I wonder why!!!! Its the only somewhat okay unit anywhere it seems!

I'm not ready to leave the baby business yet...but when I do - watch out bathroom heater companies (all one or two of you) - here I come!

Getting Dirty

I didn’t know dirt could get in so many places. Its Christmas day and because we didn’t get through the floor sanding yesterday we decided to cancel our day off today and enjoy a big breakfast and then head to the house to do some work before taking the rest of the afternoon off for a picnic.

Joey let me sleep in until 8.30am when a large delicious latte arrived on by bedside table, which is the happiest way he knows to get me up. I then made macadamia pancakes, southwestern eggs and hash browns and we enjoyed a hearty start to Christmas Day. This year we decided to forgo gifts for each other and instead enjoy the house we have just purchased. That said, my wonderful family in Australia sent us the most generous gifts that make me so proud to be a part of my family.

My brother Julian (his wife Dee and 2 year old Jude) gave us the gift a sheep in China! Sounds strange but it provided a family in the countryside of China with a sheep to care for so that they can profit from the wool sales enabling them to have an income. My parents gave us the gift of a care package for children in Southern Africa where AIDS is robbing millions of children of their parents. This helps vulnerable orphans to live and learn through providing food parcels and school fees. Pretty cool!! And for us that is what Christmas is really about.

So back to the dirt in so many places. Because it’s Christmas, Joey let me out of sanding at first so I could concentrate on something I truly love – gardening. I got our my gloves, tied my hair back to started with cutting back some of the overgrowth. This included some serious pruning on roses, birds of paradise and the huge task of pulling down a vine, which was growing up the porch and across the guttering. This was the point where dirt in the vine unloaded and I was blessed with hurt in my nose, eyes, hair, down my shirt and everywhere else. I am still finding it in new places. I gardened until I ran out of space to put the trash, and then Joey called me to come and help finish the sanding.

My wrist hasn’t quite recovered from the first two days of doing putty and hand sanding so Joey suggested I take on the buffing with the ‘mother’ sander! I was a little nervous but took the Home Depot staff suggestion of doing the cha cha with the machine and pretty quickly I got into the rhythm of it. Finally we vacuumed and then hand wiped the surfaces (well 2 of the 3 rooms) and then we did a small patch of stain to see how it comes up. Tomorrow we will find out!

So its time, to go and enjoy the last of my Christmas day with a hot bath, a glass of wine and home cooked burgers before we head out for a movie. May you have a Happy Christmas and give the gift of love to others.

The Renovations Begin

There isn’t a spot on my body that isn’t hurting! On Friday afternoon Joey (the cute husband) and I took possession of our ‘new’ 106 year-old house. Like our grand Queen Anne Victorian home we had grand ambitions and after a very cold first night of margaritas at the new abode decided to start sanding floors the next day.

Unfortunately, the previous home hadn’t quite finished moving out and gifted us with a huge amount of stuff and junk. In every room there was furniture and cupboards loaded with items that should have left but stayed. Vases, clothing, books, teapots, trash, chairs, artwork, dog toys – you name it, we inherited it. There was also a house length pile of trash in our front yard and in the back alley. So day one was spent sorting stuff and deciding which few relics would stay and where on earth we could put the stuff that had to go. We had quite an audience in front of our house, waiting to see what new stuff we would bring out each load.

By 8pm on Saturday night, Joey and I were completely spent and decided to spend the last bit of our evening enjoying the best Italian food in Los Angeles at Angeli on Melrose. It is melt in your mouth authentic Italian and every delicious mouthful is a slice of heaven. The owner just happens to be our next door neighbour from our last house and we had NO idea when we first went there how amazing her food is. No wonder they fly her to Italy to cook for special events! She also hosts her own cooking show on radio. We love her and I cannot do justice describing the food at Angeli. It is a café so not expensive and it is without a question – my favourite foodie place in LA!

Today I woke up at 8am and jumped out of bed to discover agony in my calf muscles. Apparently those stairs in my house caught up with me. No time to complain though, so after a serve on pancakes, off we headed to the store to buy putty for wood and some tools to put it on with. I threw in a pair of rubber gloves to clean our new ‘old’ Wolf stove complete with rust and leaves and to the house we headed.

For the next 8 or so hours we filled cracks, gaps and bits of our floors and while my fingers started to hurt, so did my knee’s, neck and entire right arm. We finished after dark, and while Joey went out to add a lock to our back gate, I put together a nice little house plaque with our house number on it (at our margarita’s night we discovered there was no numbers when our friends couldn’t find the place). I then decided to start cleaning our rusty stove, so put my facemask on and started scrubbing! Not much rust comes off but my arm is now officially killing! I forget, we also pulled up carpet somewhere in between from an old converted porch which we are converting back to a porch! This involved some interesting tools, a bunch of muscles that I don’t remember having and a lot of dust.

So day two in, and I am officially beaten! It is now 10pm and after a long soak in the bath, Joey and I are about to eat. Bliss – I am STARVING!

And to think, we start it all again tomorrow….