Dragons and Rats

One of my favourite nail varnishes is Chanel and I love this shade of blood red called Dragon.

Very fitting this being the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac.

Lately I've been considering trialling shellac nails but I'm sure I would be absolute rubbish when it comes to maintaining appointments every couple of weeks for regular maintenance. Maybe I could do a course and learn how to apply this wonder product myself?  

Then again I get tired of things so quickly I would be wishing to change the colour after a week!

Recently I was perusing the manicure section at the pharmacy and happened upon this product. I have used different potions from this brand before and been satisfied so thought I would give it a try.
Supposedly a layer of this top coat will extend one's mani up to 10 days. I must admit my nails do feel super strong and the sheen is quite glossy. Even the packaging is super glossy.
Plus it contains an exclusive micro-diamond formula so what's not to love about that!
I am aware some of you girls are converts to gel/acrylic/shellac nails and I would love to hear your opinions on the pros and cons.

Here are my nails rifling through Nigella's Kitchen cookbook looking for dinner inspiration and hello..a nice photo of red velvet cake to match my nails.
Oh dear don't my fingers look chubby. Actually they are more on the slender side so I figure the phone camera adds weight like a TV camera does. Please say yes, it's the cameras fault!
My mother adhered to the nightly ritual of slathering hand cream on at bedtime and I have tried valiantly to follow her advice.
My hands have suffered because I let this regime slide last year while renovating the house and my mother's words are ringing in my ears..'You can always tell a woman's age by her hands'.
Do you agree?

So..getting back to the Year of the Dragon. A quick scout around my house and we have a few dragon-ish items in this abode.

I was born in the year of the Rat. A quick research on the net informs me of certain characteristics I definitely was aware of but a wow moment occurred upon reading the following gem,
'Routine halts their creativity so Rats need flexibility'.
So so true, I have never been a lover of routine, most of my life I've railed against it and flexibility is my middle name.

 So maybe I can blame this trait on the fact I would be hopeless at maintaining nail appointments?
xx

A Few Tidbits about Little Old Me

Hello all

I've been a bit snowed under this week and not able to fully participate in the tag game recently bestowed upon me by the delightful Anna from My Design Ethos. Thank you Anna for wishing to get to know me better by asking some fun questions.

So, apologies for changing the rules and only answering Anna's set questions and leaving the rest of the game up in the air. 
Hope these tidbits will suffice. 

I'd love to know the following about you...

1. If you could have dinner with anybody, who would you choose?

Hard question! DalaiLama, Kevin Kline, Stevie Nicks, Kevin McCloud, Senator Bob Brown, Eva Gabor, Jodie Picoult, JFK , Coco Chanel, Judith Lucy. I could name more...

2. What's your favourite cocktail/wine/mocktail?

A chilled glass of Pinot Grigio, Southern Comfort and Coke, Brandy Alexander, Bubbly, Cosmopolitan..hmm better stop there!

3. If you could have any job in the world, apart from your current job, what would you be?

A guide dog trainer, or a nurse (my one regret in life is that I didn't train as a Nurse)

4. If you could change your name what would you change it to?

Absolutely no idea

5. Are you a summer or winter person?

Definitely summer. Wearing winter clothing does irritate me after awhile

6. Are you a saver or a spender?

I like to indulge myself occasionally but I have to confess to watching my pennies. Probably stems from marrying young and paying a mortgage at the age of 20

7. If you could live in any era (i.e. 40s, 60s etc) what would you choose?

I'm a child of the sixties so definitely this era

8. What's one place you want to visit before you die?

Oh there is more than one but I'll narrow it down to two...Alaska and Ireland

9. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

A dog ( but only if I was going to be spoilt like my pooch) or a panda

10. Name your favourite colour?

Shades of red..pink, cranberry etc. Black and white are faves also.

11. What's your favourite blog at the moment?

Oh wow, I love many blogs so I'll leave it at that!

Enjoy your weekend!

xx

A Change is as Good as a Holiday...or so they say

Today I tweaked and fiddled and foofed and procrastinated with the design of this little blog in the hope of simplifying the layout.

Now I'm not sure if I succeeded other than driving myself just a little bit insane in the process. Blogging has verified an aspect of my personality that I definitely knew existed...I like change.

Is this design permanent? Most definitely probably not.

Half the fun of learning is trial and error and having a bash and along the way I occasionally surprise myself. Considering this morning I thought I'd lost my blog in cyber space. Feeling the meltdown approaching I just had to walk away for several hours and return to the computer and give red roses and crystal her revamp.

Why am I publishing a photo of bright coloured lollies you may ask. No reason other than I feel like eating a whole packet right this minute.

And if you hear me thinking out loud about making more changes in the foreseeable future, please somebody ...STOP ME.

(yes I'm a drama queen)

xx

Retro and Fabulous

While cleaning out my pantry the other day I snapped some pics of these retro treasures which belonged to my parents. To be honest I don't use these pieces but upon reflection I might just give them a new lease of life. 

Especially after seeing the green and white Bessemer cocktail/dip server in the collectables shop recently with a price tag of $38.00

As a child in the sixties I thought my parents were very trendy owning these orange mugs. Who doesn't love an orange mug?

The bamboo tumblers were a favourite of my father's. He would collapse in a chair after working a long day and enjoy a beer from his favoured vessel 

My mother loved to entertain and a desert (or 'sweets' as the term was back then) would always follow the meal. Usually a parfait of some description was in order

I recall my father concocting cocktails and he loved using this soda fountain for refreshing beverages

The Mexican lady and her donkey was a constant on our kitchen bench and every day mum would place a fresh flower in the cart

I really have no idea of the vintage of this set other than it is old! Here it sits proudly in my cabinet and I admit I'm too scared to use any piece as it is extremely delicate

Aha the infamous Bessemer

All that remains of a Noritake dinner set circa 1970's (?)

I have a feeling this lovely tray belonged to my grandmother

Now I can be extremely ruthless with decluttering but there are some treasures that I simply cannot part with. Maybe it's the sentimentality and memories...but I need to hold onto some of these precious links to my up bringing.

I bet you are holding onto precious memories in the form of collectables you never utilize? But you know what, if they bring you peace and joy, well, that's not such a bad thing is it!

Annie xx

A Question and My Weekend

It's the start of a new week and so I will jump in boots and all and pose a question before I share snippets of my weekend. 

People I'd love you to share...how and when do you allocate precious time to blog? Actually writing a blog is not my issue (I always have fodder) but of late I'm in a dilemma because I'm not commenting on my fave blogs as often as I used to. Before I commenced this caper I was a devoted commenter but (and I was warned this would happen) since starting RRC and personally following a stack more blogs which seems to come with the territory, nowadays I find while I might tune in and read the blogs I follow I don't always have time to leave a comment. Same goes for replying to the beautiful comments readers leave on RRC, in this blogs infancy I maintained I would answer all but you know, at times there just isn't enough hours in the day!

How do you share the Love?

Do you blog every day but only occasionally comment on blogs?

Do you blog only occasionally but are a devoted commenter?

Do you break the tasks up ie. sit down to thrash out your own post and leave reading and commenting on other bloggers posts till another time/day? 

I fear I'm probably hopeless at time management in this regard. If I log on and attempt a post then catch up and comment on my pals blogs in the morning like I'm doing right now I find the morning disappears quickly and I'm behind for the whole day.

So many questions and so many answers. Be assured I'm not having a whinge this morning but I still regard myself as a novice at this game and helpful tips are appreciated. 

Alrighty that's about as heavy as I want to get this week folks so here are a few snippets from my weekend

These faux suede boots were made for walking... maybe but I've not done much walking in them I'm afraid. One of those silly first purchases in China years ago when everything looked like a bargain and my life would never be the same again if I didn't bring these boots home.
The reason for this photo you may ask....De cluttering Mania.
Had to be done. I was drowning in a sea of shoes and clothes in the walk-in robe. A visit to the Salvos centre this week will be organised

Breakfast with a friend was delightful. We needed sustenance after scouring the sale at Daryl's store and snapping several bargains. Like cushions. Mr red roses comment..'do we really need more cushions in this house'.
Yes!

The pantry also needed a thorough clean out and re-organisation. As it's a large space, food stuffs tend to get thrown in willy nilly but I am determined to keep this area tidy now.
You read it here folks

A big project under way is the installation of insulation under the deck roof. The tin radiates heat and during a Queensland summer it's unbearable to sit here during the day so a plan was devised to counteract this. I will be posting about this installation in the near future.

This pink crystal has no relevance to the past weekend. Just thought I'd share it's prettiness. Snapped this instagram shot recently of this pretty crystal that sits on my dressing table. $10 from Target and is probably a paperweight I think?

So..please fess up and spill, I would love your thoughts on how you manage sharing your time with this blogging caper.
How do you allocate posting, reading and commenting time so that you don't place pressure on yourself to do it all...every day????

Annie xx

Dining Out and Celebrating

Our dining out experience the other night for darling daughter's birthday was lovely. The choice of restaurant was a casual Japanese eatery. Here are a few shots of dinner..

My little family can eat their body weight in Japanese delicacies

The only time I drink beer is when the temperature hits 34C here in Australia or I'm staying in Tokyo during summer. I tell you, in those conditions there is nothing so refreshing as an ice cold beer.
Don't pearls and beer make a nice combo?

Pity the pic is blurry, my sheath dress is the most delicious emerald green linen & cotton by Veronika Maine.

I love this photo I snapped from the back seat of the car...our daughter is driving. Our son is riding shotgun. The birthday girl was the only one who chose a non alcoholic beverage instead of two glasses of Hokkaido, so she drew the short straw to chauffeur us safely home.

The irony was not lost on her parents. How the tables have turned!

Home to our fairy lights runway after a truly wonderful evening celebrating another milestone.
I do believe Mr red roses and I are finally starting to relax after 24 years of parenthood. Our children are forging ahead with their careers and so we are breathing easier.

Annie xx

Food Glorious Food

This week seems to be revolving around food and the consumption of same. We have a house guest this week...our son had unexpected surgery and is recuperating at the hacienda (he flew the nest a year ago). He's lapping up his mother's love and home cooked treats. Banana & cranberry muffins, healthy mango smoothies, smoked salmon pasta salad, watermelon, stir fry's and dried cranberries to name a few. My son and I are just a little bit addicted to munching on dried cranberries.

 This week also sees my daughter celebrating a birthday which of course means birthday cake and dining out.  I baked Morgan's Grandma's Red Velvet cake. This recipe is dead easy to whip up and the result is divine.

Have a great rest of the week everyone. I'll just go squeeze in another slice of cake then paint my toenails before dining out tonight at a Japanese restaurant.
What colour nail varnish you ask? I do believe Rimmel Cranberry Zest will be appropriate.

Annie xx

A Splash of Faux Blooms

For a good while now I have been contemplating purchasing a bunch of faux blooms to add interest and colour in my formal living area. Real blooms are preferable to my sensitivities but realistically, the bank balance groans whenever I stock up at the flower vendor. On the odd occasion I shall lash out for the real article but austerity measures are afoot due to further renovations planned at the red roses hacienda. 

Yesterday I spied these cranberry coloured blooms on sale at Earthborn for $7.95 per stem. I have no idea the price of fake flowers in other countries but down here they are expensive as are the real variety 

Plus the quality of the fake type is not always fantastic. 

Plus I always over think and panic if the specimens I bring home will look..well..crapola.

The moment I saw these ones I knew the shade was speaking to me and because I have gone nuts for any colour resembling cranberry...well the rest is history.

Of course these blooms look fake but I'm not letting that fact bother me anymore. Walking into this predominately white room to be greeted by this cheery vibrant burst makes me happy and that's all that matters.

A touch of doctoring was in order to attain the desired aesthetic. A mass of greenery is not on my radar so this was removed and the long stems hacked off and the plastic yellow stoma's were cut off.
A firm hand, brute force and twisting and turning to snap through the plastic and wire and I was in business.

All this activity happened right on dinner preparation time which is often the case, it's usually the time of day I feel inspired. Not great I know but hey, I run with the urge.

The rose bushes have been in hiatus but are once again in bloom and so these lovelies found their way to the entry table

Do you decorate with round ceramic balls? To solve the problem of this stand alone runaway ball that rests on the butlers table I resorted to placing on an unused shower drain part left over from a bathroom reno

Sitting last night admiring the 'under the sea' effect my crystal basket light fittings show on the vaulted ceiling and the new blooms
Love this room...

How interesting would it be to analyse the colour preferences we incorporate into our abode. At the moment I like a splash of happy bright cheerful in certain areas. Maybe it's due our glorious summer weather or..whatever.
All I know is these cheap as chips fake blooms are making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and I'm not going to argue with myself over the merits of fake verses real!

Annie xx

Discovering Quaint Collectables

After a spot of business recently near the Woolloongabba Antique Centre we popped in for a sticky beak. This was my first visit and I found the set-up enchanting with retro music playing and a nice little cafe to replenish one's system after trawling through the bits and bobs.

Here is a quick tour 

Tea being my poison of choice I appreciate a dainty tea cup but I certainly do not require anymore in the hacienda.

A very colourful and eclectic chandelier

Crystal...somebody stop me!!!!

Cowboy boots anyone?

Trolls. Not the awful cyber type who live to create havoc but the cute as a button only a mother could love variety. Check out the belly button bling. Cute.
I remember owning several back in the day..did you?
Come on, you're allowed to confess in blog land

Well hello I'm hooked. Pretty tea pot, cup and saucer with accompanying tiny milk bottle and a delish mini cheesecake. All the while perched in a booth reminiscent of my 60's childhood kitchen and many an Australian milk bar.
Vinyl bench seats and a laminex table top...oh the memories

Here are my cranberry coloured toes and retro-ish Laura Ashley print frock which was befitting the venue.
Do you ever get a surprise and find photos on your camera that miraculously appear? The camera gremlins snapped this one!

After living in this city for two decades it's fascinating to discover new places.

Annie xx