A New Lipstick and Hauling Out the Heavy Arsenal

I promised to tell you about my new lipstick purchase.
After reading a style post from Alexandria Emporium I convinced myself that yes siree I could sure do with a brand new colour. The lovely lady behind Alexandria Emporium is M. I feel comfortable following her suggestions because she obviously enjoys sourcing and conducting reviews on quality products with a good dose of common sense thrown in.

So I hot footed it to the Estee Lauder counter, chatted with the sales assistant and settled on 01 Stay Rose from their Double Wear Stay range. I have used EL products over the years and love them. This lipstick is divine to use, creamy and easy to apply although I personally prefer the use of a lip brush for even coverage and a definite neat line.



Which brings me to the following photo. My new lipstick and I went out to dinner with Mr red roses so I asked him to aim for a from the nose down shot (do tell.. are your partners used to you whipping out the camera at every opportunity?)
Anyway after noticing the wrinkles around my mouth I thought ekk! You see my face underwent brutally intense chemotherapy skin cancer treatments, not to mention having several BCC's surgically removed, and my skins elasticity has suffered. Since the treatments I've used natural organic skincare to heal and nurture but now I'm thinking I will use the heavy arsenal ie. the hydrating and firming serums which are sitting in my vanity waiting, pleading to be used up. Will my favored top gun treatments help restore my beauty youth elasticity. I have no idea, chances are no..but I may as well give it a shot and in the process at least feel a little more proactive in combating this aging business.
My early past life was spent working in the beauty industry and like it or not the art of looking presentable is etched in my DNA. I don't lose sleep over getting older but I'm sure as hell going to go down fighting.

This week, thanks to M I shall be checking out the new range of BB creams coming onto the market.
Dior sounds nice..
xx

Window Shopping

A quick bus ride into the city was called for this week and while Mr red roses attended an appointment I ventured to the shops as we women like to do, for a spot of shopping and drooling over the luxe goods on offer.
If I was forced to choose between a bus or train then chugging along on a bus would win hands down. Plus I like hearing passengers sing out to the driver a courteous 'thanks' or 'cheers' as they alight. Reminds me there are still tons of nice appreciative folk in the world.











Gazing at lush bath crystals and soaps, popping into my favorite store to admire beautiful Swarovski pieces, wondering how to debate the fact I could do with a very lovely Coach handbag.










Yes please




Bright colors are making their way into our stores in anticipation of spring.
Bring it on!

I giggled to myself at the stance on this mannequin




Before I knew it t'was time to head to the bus stop and this beautiful 1889 Uniting church always stops me in my tracks..Simply Glorious.

Though it's a pity about the monstrosity behind...talk about chalk and cheese.





Oh and I did lash out on a new lipstick but will report back on my next post. A new lippy is always rather exciting.

Annie xx

New Shoes

Do you approve?
I need to purchase shoes which offer good support and the option of inserting orthotics. No heels for this little black duck I'm afraid. Of course this makes me sad but I have to be sensible nowadays.
On sale which is always attractive, mind you 'On Sale' around these here parts is still expensive compared to other countries.
These new leopard flats were introduced to my shoe collection yesterday and given a hearty welcome.
Happy days!

Annie xx

But I Have Nothing To Wear...

Well yes I do have outfits to choose from for an evening of dining out and a performance in the city, however, after flicking through a Grazia magazine looking at sublime young creatures in gorgeous fashionable gear I really have the urge to vamp up my wardrobe.
Easier said than done. My conservative tastes stem from growing up in the era of all pieces matchy matchy with no mixing of patterns etc etc etc.
I suspect Conservative is in my DNA.
Conservative comes into its own when packing for trips..black, white, grey is a no brainer and I can set foot on the plane knowing the contents of my luggage will speak to each other throughout the journey. No hissy fits allowed amongst my apparel thank you.

The first two pics from the magazine caught my eye but probably more suited to hip young things who can wear towering heels. Like my daughter.
The third pic is more my DNA. Safe, predictable, neutral.
Do you ever have the urge to break out and reinvent the contents of your wardrobe?

Annie xx

A Few New Pretties

Don't you love finding a few little additions for your home?

I do! 

A few blog friends and I recently enjoyed morning tea at Thea and Sami's screen printing studio and these beautiful linen place mats and fish design tea towels came home with me. 

Many thanks for your wonderful hospitality Thea.

Then this morning I popped into the sale at du Monde and found this gorgeous Buddha which will enhance our outdoor entertaining area (when it's finally completed!) plus a lovely floral cushion which jumped into my arms. A home can never have too many cushions.
It was a real pleasure to visit your store again Daryl.

Adding a new pretty into my abode gives me great pleasure and I just know I will be very happy with these latest finds from two very talented Brisbane based designers.

Annie xx

Morning Tea and a Pretty Chair

Today a friend and I enjoyed a lovely morning at the WAC.

Coffee, tea and cakes in the retro cafe were consumed after wandering through the myriad of shops looking for treasures.

 I purchased a sweet chair from Sandy's shop 'Paint me White'. 

I spied this telephone on my wanderings through the antique centre and remember when my parents bought one of these trendy (at the time) telephones when I was a child. I thought I had the grooviest parents!

And here is the quaint fold-up chair in the shade I'm loving right now. I placed it in my living room for now but do feel it is the perfect size and design to be situated anywhere in my home.

Much fun was had playing around with cushions and books and best of all it will be a versatile addition to my home.
Thanks Sandy, your wares are lovely and so very reasonably priced.

Isn't it fun bringing a new furniture addition into one's abode?

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

I'm Home

Hello Everyone

I'm back home after having a ball in Beijing and Hong Kong.

If you have not yet travelled to these cities then quickly put them on your bucket list because both are wonderful experiences. We've visited HK several times and while Mr red roses has hit the ground running once before on a quick visit to Beijing it was the first visit for me and our daughter.

Of course I took heaps of photos and shall probably bore you all senseless sharing some in the next few posts. 

Now just check out this skyline. The tallest building lit at the very top was behind our hotel in HK (on the island). Our abode is the wee building directly in front and it was about 40 floors high! 

Travelling to China one must participate in a spot of shopping therapy. Remarkably we didn't go overboard. Here's a few trinkets we hunted and gathered.
Several cashmere pashminas and silk scarves were added to my collection along with a few strands of bling from Beijing.

My favourite shoe shop at Stanley Market HK never disappoints when it comes to sourcing Birkenstock and this trip I also gathered a pair of sensible Merrill sandals.
Drastically reduced compared to Aust. prices tags let me tell you.

Duty free perfume was on the list. I took the leap and reignited an old love affair.
With Chanel No 5.
I've enjoyed wearing No 19 for about two decades so figured a change back to my first love was in order. Girls this fragrance is an all time classic and I love it to bits.
Yes I'm a creature of habit with fragrance but you can't beat the old timers in my opinion.

My son discovered a tailor in HK two years ago while he was kicking up his heels in the city.
Dear son had a bespoke suit and shirts made to measure so this trip Mr redroses and I trotted off to the same tailor. Mr red roses got all measured up and a spanking new suit and four shirts winged their way home in his suitcase. Only took two days to sew...unbelievable.
Not one to be left out I carted a favourite frock in my luggage which the very clever tailor copied exactly and voila!... my wardrobe now contains two new summer additions created with the softest cotton in my choice of patterns, lined and with pockets. Teamed with a belt and I'm good to go.
Bliss for a stifling summer.
                                             

Today I was joking with a friend how I craved plain comfort food after nearly two weeks of delectable spicy meals.
So here is tonight's dinner...BBQ chook, mash and lashings of gravy. Hit the spot!

A tad more boring don't you agree than skewered scorpion?

Hmm...do you think I ate these critters?

Travelling restricts the reading of fave blogs and I'm dreadfully behind with every ones shenanigans.
Have you all been having fun?

Annie xx

A Pleasant Afternoon

The Pooch had a session at the doggie beauty parlour today so I thought a photo op would be appropriate.

Actually her name is Tessa. 

Oh spoilt one.

My darling mother used to joke that in her next life she is coming back as a Tessa.

Occasionally the girls put a cute bow in her fro and well hello, doesn't she look glamorous!

                                  The chair was recovered for me to lounge in but T has commandeered it. Yes..spoilt.

So while Tess was being pampered I killed time in my old stamping ground and chilled out. Sat in the park and watched the world go by. Took along a book which I snapped up cheap as chips recently and attempted to begin reading (a nice little neat and tidy murder mystery is right up my alley) but found I was content to people watch and contemplate how my old semi-rural village has developed over two decades.
I no longer live close by but there's still valid reasons to return every so often so I make the effort.

Of course in this village is a gift shop and of course it beckoned. Can I tell you of the internal struggle I endued upon spying this white jug with the dainty scalloped detail.
I ask you 'how many pretty white jugs should a girl own'? I resisted.
However I did bring home two black and white patterned mugs for everyday use.

I confess I'm a sucker for a pretty thank you card. These will be winging their way to rellies who don't rely on texting, twittering, facebooking or emailing. Yes there are still folk in the world resisting technological change and you know, I'm a bit envious.

So I enjoyed a couple of hours kicking back and smelling the roses.
Tessa is sound asleep in her favourite spot in the study (if she's not on my lap) where she can keep an eye on yours truly. This shampooing, clipping and blow-drying caper takes a lot out of an old girl she'll have you believe.
Half her luck I say!

Hope you enjoyed the day and managed to stop and smell the roses even for just a second.


Annie xx

Stamina...and shopping

 The other day my darling daughter says 'lets hit the shopping centre Mum, I'm after a new outfit for tomorrow nights 21st birthday party'. Pardon..another one! Mind you, all her friends male/female alike, keep the gift giving component to a sensible level of expenditure otherwise it becomes quite ridiculous.

Moving along...
So I threw on a comfy three year old Zara long top/very short dress whatsy over leggings, my new on sale leopard print Cue cardi, teamed with a gifted Peruvian necklace.

You would expect a pair of cute little ballet flats for a 'quick' shopping haul would suffice but I'm learning the hard way I really should be sensible and don shoes with support for a few laps of a mega mall. Plus the binding rubbed and caused a blister. Luckily a bandaid was procured post haste.

While I sat and bopped along to Talking Heads over the boutique sound system I pondered if the lovely young ladies perusing the racks and working in these establishments realise we mothers' are one step ahead  as far as decades past bands are concerned or do they assume it 'new' music? Funny the stuff one does analyse sitting in a trendy dress shop.
Anyways for my pleasure there lay an abundance of stylish magazines to flick through between zipping and unzipping the dresses my girl tried on in the itty bitty change room.

After the successful purchase of a divine little pink number we resorted to a spot of  healthy high energy food and a nice cup of tea. That's dd there with the croissant and jam and I'm about to devour these delish hot chips slathered in high fat sour cream and chilli sauce.

It's ok we still had more shopping to gather so the calories were mandatory.

This pic was hurriedly snapped before she rushed out the door and as the evening had turned quite chilly a jacket was quickly organised. Notice the shorter hemline...the young ones with beautiful pins can so carry off this length bless them.

Has my shopping stamina embarked on a long holiday? My body felt tired afterwards. I remember the days I could hunt and gather for HOURS now I'm more of a 'lets get this over with' kinda gal.
Am I alone here??

The pooch snuggled up as I recuperated in my cozy dressing gown at days end.
But guess what? Next time my daughter requests yours truly as her companion for what ever reason I'll be there with bells on because these hours spent together are so very precious and I shall always cherish every minute we share. I vividly recall bringing my sweet little newborn bundle home and never expecting she would be a grown woman forging her way in the world five minutes later!
And don't get me started on my son who is in his mid-twenties, has flown the coup and is truly a man of the world. The years..have..sped..by.
And I love them both, with all my heart.
xx