Book review: We need to talk about Kevin

My bookclub is finally up and running again after a 6 month hiatus which I am happy about as I love reading books I wouldn't usually pick up. This month we read 'We need to talk about Kevin' by Lionel Shriver which is actually a book I have been wanting to read for along time but hadn't got around too it.

The book is written from the perspective of Kevin's mother, Eva and are in the form of letters to Kevin's father Franklin. The letters detail how Eva has always struggled to love her son Kevin and deals with whether she is to blame for the highschool massacre Kevin went on, killing 11 people who went to his high school.

This book was confronting as you deal with emotions that are rarely associated with children and the excitement of having a a baby. Is it possible to not love your child? Can people be born evil? And of course the age old question of nature v nurture. I enjoyed this book, though I wouldn't say that it was an easy read. It took me nearly four weeks to get through it. It just bought up so many emotions in me that I felt I needed to put it down every now and than and just think about it. Lionel has an absolute talent for expressing emotion and creating empathy in her reader. Now I am tossing up whether or not to see the movie? Have you seen it?

What are you reading at the moment? I have just started 'The Shadow Girl' which is terrific so far but I will report back once its finished.

Getting dressed for the Hunger Games

jumper: jay jays // shorts: gap // shoes: toms

 If I had not been going to see the Hunger Games yesterday I probably would not have needed to get dressed at all. But I am still not sold on the idea of leaving the house in pyjamas so clothes had to make an appearance. I decided to keep it casual and bring out one of my "cutesy" jumpers that I had stashed away for Autumn, one of my friends said it looks like something from the seventies, I am happy to take that. 

On to the Hunger Games, I really enjoyed it! Of course it isn't as good as the book but that very rarely happens. I think that they cast the movie perfectly. I have a super crush on Liam Hemsworth, but I was always going to love whoever played Gale. 

Have you seen the movie? What did you think?

Celebrating the past, looking forward to the future

This week has been an absolute whirlwind. Brendan's family arrived on Thursday to celebrate his graduation on Friday. His Graduation was at Parliament house and I couldn't help but be so proud. Even though he has been working as a teacher for the last 2 months it was really nice to be able to celebrate everything he achieved over the last four years. We stayed out until 3am in the morning which I never do any more (I am too much of a grandma these days) and meant I spent most of Saturday in bed, oh well it was worth it.


It is really exciting for our future too. We have lots of plans for the next few years the first one being (hopefully) moving to the UK for a year in February. Brendan lived there for a year when he was 19 and now we want to go back and do it together. So the rest of the year is going to be spent saving up and planning our trip, I cant wait for our new adventure!


My sister arrives this afternoon and we are heading straight to see the Hunger Games, so excited!!

BLT salad: too good not to share

I wasn't going to post tonight but I wanted to quickly tell you about this super easy dinner I made tonight. It was a BLT sans bread but with chicken and avocado, so delicious! The whole receipe can be found here. It is pretty healthy, Taste says that it is approximately 1150kj which isn't too bad for a meal. I used low fat dressing and pan fried the chicken and bacon in a tiny bit of cooking spray with chilli, basil and garlic. So delicious, definitely a receipe for when you don't feel like cooking but want something moderately healthy.

I got it on sale...

earrings: monet // necklace: forever new // top: kmart // skirt: target // blazer: zara

When I buy something and its cheap I feel the need to tell the whole world. For example today someone complimented my necklace and I was more than happy to exclaim it was from Forever New and only $8. However when someone compliments me on something that  I consider expensive I never exclaim to them the crazy price that I paid for it. I really don't think I am alone in this habit as I always have friends more than happy to talk about something they bought on sale but fail to mention a price on a bigger ticket items.

I cant help but wonder why? Does telling other people about things we bought on sale help us to justify our purchases or show off our knack for shopping? Alternatively does buying something cheap justify the things we spend more on?

What do you think? 

Winter colours

pants: target // top: zara // shoes: wittner // bag: steve madden

The weather is already bitter here in Canberra which makes Mondays even tougher. We usually have until the end of April before we need to start reaching for our coats and jackets but this year it could be as early as next week. It’s no secret that I despise winter so this early onslaught of cold weather is not making me a happy camper. I am however enjoying winter colours, I got this top on the weekend from Zara and love the deep rich red colour. It makes me want to dye my hair a really dark brown for winter, which I may just do over the Easter break. 

Weekend review: reliving my teenage years

♥ poached eggs and pesto, sushi train, coffee ♥

♥ zumbo macaroons, soooo good ♥

♥ shopping from Zara and Dotti ♥

♥ Picasso, Goulburn marino, Lake George with water ♥

♥  Aqua photo from here but this was taken at the concert we were at ♥ 

I went to Sydney this weekend to see Aqua! Yes, Aqua of Barbie Girl and Dr Jones fame. It was so much fun, it was a really eclectic crowd and everyone was dancing and singing and just enjoying themselves. They played a few new songs but everyone there was obviously keen to hear all the old songs from our teenage years. I never picked up on all the sexual innuendo when I was younger. I have to say I still shamelessly love nineties pop music what a fun period Spice Girls, Backstreet boys, B*Witched, Steps etc. 

While I was in Sydney we also went to the Picasso exhibition whic was really good. I know nothing about art and nothing about Picasso so I definitely feel more educated. We also ate lots of delicious food, I think that food is always one of my favourite things about trips away!

I hope you had a good weekend.

A Modcloth stylish surprise

skirt: modcloth // top: myer // cardigan: zara // shoes: kmart

I got this skirt from Modcloth as part of their Stylish Surprise promotion a few weeks ago. When I first saw it I wasn’t overly excited as it is a little out of my style ambit. I had immediate thoughts of selling it on ebay but then decided the whole point of getting a ‘stylish surprise’ is to try something different. So I played it safe and paired it with colours already in the skirt. I have to say I am pretty happy with how it turned out.  I think it might be a good staple for Autumn especially paired with oranges or even navy. 
Happy weekend by the way, I am heading to Sydney tomorrow to visit my sister and go to Aqua (yes the 90’s, I’m a barbie girl band haha).

Little life updates ~ March ~

♥ new make-up // starting the couch to 5km challenge // valentines day treats // giving my sister her 21st birthday present // new bedspread // at work // reading material // nails for Easter // food of late, yum  ♥

Reading... 'We need to talk about Kevin' by Lionel Shriver

Watching... Homeland and Revenge very addictive

Talking... to my mum and looking forward to seeing her again in a few weeks

Thinking... where I can get delicious macaroons from on the weekend?

Buying... the last two things I have bought was a ticket to Aqua and a ticket to the Picasso exhibition, so cultured

Planning... a trip to Perth in July

Wearing.. a black skirt and purple pussy bow shirt

Tweeting... about rude people who take up two seats on the bus

Thank you so much for your nice comments yesterday it made me feel a little less mortified!

When a manicure costs you your dignity....

skirt:h&m // top: target // shoes: macys // earrings: gift // ring: markets // cardy:myer

See that manicure, it is quite possibly the best manicure I have ever got. I had it done on Saturday and it is now Wednesday and still going strong. However that manicure came with a cost, which was unfortunately my dignity. Let me explain...


I bought a livingsocial deal to get a facial and my nails done at a salon I had never been to before. I arrived on Saturday and told the receptionist I was there for my 3.30pm appointment. She took me into a back room and told me to get undressed put a towel around me and a shower cap on. I thought this was very strange for a facial and nails but thought it might be there practice so quickly obliged. 


The girl came back and took me into the spray tan room, I quickly told her I wasn't there for a spray tan. She looked at me like I was completely crazy and asked me what I was there for, I replied to get my nails done and get a facial. She looked me up and down and said "well why did you take your clothes off? You can put them back on now." I was semi-naked and mortified and to top it off as I was getting changed I heard the next room explode into laughter as the rest of the store got to hear about my antics. So even though I am really happy with the manicure, I will not be returning...


Have you got any mortifying beautician stories? I would be more than happy to hear them.


A note on this outfit: it is nothing special but I love the stripes and the way the skirt and top combine to look like a dress. Plus the turquoise accessories give it a splash of colour!

A day at the races

We headed to the races yesterday and it was such an amazing day. The weather was beyond perfect which was surprising after two weeks of rain. I love going to the races, I love seeing what everyone wears which usually tends to run in extremes from the completely amazing to the really bad. Unfortunately we left a little broker than when we arrived but it was such a good nice and good to get a last glimpse of Summer.

It was a long weekend in Canberra so we also had today off. It was spent eating delicious hamburgers, cleaning up around the house and getting our arse kicked at netball. I really don't want to head back to work tomorrow but at least it is a short week. How was your weekend?

Happy international women's day

dress: asos // blazer: valleygirl // necklace: diva //shoes: novo // bag: coach // headband: cotton on 

Today I very happily celebrated international women's day. For me it was a time to be thankful for how far women have come in society and the women who made that happen. To think that just forty years ago women were expected to give up their careers when they got married blows me away. It is also a time to stop and appreciate the amazing women we have in our lives and to remember to be kind and support each other. The men at work put on a little surprise morning tea for all the ladies it was very sweet.


On another note I got this dress from ASOS for like $35. I feel that my work clothes sometimes push the boundaries a little but I feel like this dress is still professional but with a pop of colour keeping me happy. Oh and two people told me that my necklace looks like a christmas tree, it was really weird, one person I can understand but two?


I am now going to run and clean up a little before my mum arrives for the night, we are heading out for dumplings and wine, yum!

Make-up novice

I have never really been a big make up person, clothing or handbags has usually been my preferred poison. As you can see from my makeup draw nearly all my stuff is from Clinique and most of that was free samples that came with my foundation. About two weeks ago I discovered the world of youtube makeup tutorials/hauls. It has become such a guilty pleasure to watch one of these videos before work in the morning or to be honest a few in the evenings after dinner. Some of my favourites include Scrapbook de la Emma, DulceCandy87 and Lisa Elridge.

Unfortunately a side effect of watching these videos is a new found obsession with all things make-up related. Below are a few of the new products that I have bought over the past few weeks in an attempt to be a little more brazen in the make-up field.

My two favourite purchases are the Revlon ‘Gold Coin’ nail polish which I have wanted since I used my sisters bottle at the start of February. And also the Maxfactor 'Scarlet Ghost' lipstick has really good staying power and is a really pretty pink colour. 

I am also having fun with the makeup brushes, they’re probably not the best ones out there but they are great for beginners like me who need the instructions on the back hehe. Oh and I now own liquid eyeliner, I feel like such a grown up! I have to say it has pretty much revolutionised my world (you cant tell I exaggerate right?) it is so much easier to apply, very happy about that.

Is there any make-up you really like at the moment? Or do you have any one on youtube you recommend I watch, I am always up for a new obsession.

wet weather uniform

socks: asos // shoes: cotton on // skirt: dotti // tshirt: valleygirl // jacket: target // scarf: cannot remember // watch: fossil

I kind of disappeared from the internet this week. It has been raining everyday this week and I lost motivation to do little more than go to work come home and nestle up with a book or a movie. I think I have watched more movies this week than I did all last year.


Today I decided to rejoin the living and went out for breakfast with a friend and indulged in a tasty bacon and egg roll. Brendan and I than headed off to the Handwritten exhibition at the National Library which was so good. It was amazing to see handwritten pieces of Einstein, Galileo, Newton, Beethoven and even a receipt written by Michaelangelo for a deposit for one of his pieces. I would definitely recommend seeing it if you will be in Canberra before the 18th of March.


Tonight we are having friends over for the dinner and the weather is dictating a baked dinner with roast lamb and red wine. Hope you are having a lovely weekend!


P.s these boots are from Cotton On and are currently on sale for $20 and are super comfortable so I recommend you grab some.