lanne

Itzbeen

I have to share .. I spent the day at a friends today.. she has a gorgeous four month old.. and she just got this fabulous gadget.. it was SO COOL and made tracking the lil guys day a dream. (now dont get me wrong he was angelic today.. but this device ROCKS..

http://www.itzbeen.com/about.php

The perfect gift for any new Mum and super dooper simple!

Industry Mentor

The student becomes the teacher this weekend. Robyn was my first ever high school teacher. Day one... period one... Rob took me for art. Art - not a bad way to start high school. I had just turned 12.. I got new shoes for school. a new uniform which was a lil too big - my parents fearing my rapid growth would continue.. and a shiny new school bag.. She also taught me in Year 10 and Year 12 and was my Form teacher for 10, 11 and 12.

(For those in the states.. generally we have primary and high school here.. year 1 - 7 and 8 - 12 although middle school is creeping in).

Fast forward a few years I am 17 years old and nannying for the other art teacher. Robyn encouraged me to do other things.. and see what else the world had to offer. It took me a while. i adored that 2.5 year old. I still do. K is a very important part of my life... he just happens to be 16!! now and making me feel very very old and uncool..LOL

Robyn has helped me to quit and get more jobs than I can name off the top of my head. I have had quite a few. Each time I didn't listen.. I wished I had. She now comes for late night writing sessions when I apply for the bigger and better jobs. She edits and we throw back phrases and words which will get me in the door. 18 years... she has been teaching and I have been learning. We painted her house together, we visit galleries together, we drink coffee, .. she joins in New Years celebrations. She is the executor of my will.. She is the steady sensible one... who is analytical intelligent and always reminds me of what is a good deal and when it is time to move on.

She is involved in a project where her latest art class will create photoshop brushes and sell them online. I am her industry mentor and this weekend she is learning about creating the brushes and setting up an online point of sale and marketing it. We hope that the students will see real value in creating digital art, and also see that this isn't just a 'hobby' that art can be a career choice.

I expect it will take the kids until some time in October/November to finish and upload their brushes. In the mean time - if you would be willing to help advertise them but posting an ad on your blog... or buying the brushes. Please let me know - I am sure there is a group of Senior Art Students would really appreciate your time and effort.

and I am looking forward to some laughs and good coffee/treats on Saturday.

All done

I did it.. I am done. I let my boss know that I would not be seeking another contract. She asked what I would need to stay.. and I said .. nothing.. I don't wish to stay... I did say that I enjoyed working with such intelligent and talented people. I enjoyed the work and if something stable and long term that was one or two days a week came up I would be keen to know about it.. but at this point I would be finishing up at the end of Sept. .. 4 weeks to go!

It gives me a little time to put something extra aside.. to wrap up loose ends.. to finalise things at work and get some things in order at home.

Yesterday was worse than the day before and I became only too clear in my mind what I needed to do. THANK YOU to everyone who was so supportive. I am really excited about the challenges and tasks ahead of me.

I have turned down 3 weddings this week. I don't shoot weddings. I am not sure if I am good enough to shoot weddings and I don't think I want the responsibility of the wedding photos! I also don't want to deal with bridezillas. but... sometimes in this world we do things that scare and challenge us. Sometimes we have to take a big leap and improve.

So... in the spirit of embracing this new FOCUSSED life.. so I am opening up to doing SOME weddings. I hired an assistant yesterday. A gorgeous wonderful people person. She is a powerhouse... gorgeous soft and sweet.. polite.. great with older ladies and drunk uncles I imagine. BUT BOY OH BOY can she ever whip people into shape..LOL She can move mountains... and she is casual.. (because I can only just afford ME) .. and she will work the weddings with me.. Not sure she is built to carry the crumpler bag.. (gosh it is heavy!) but she will do great with a run sheet.. and generally keeping me calm and shooting.

I am only shooting day weddings, only smaller affairs and hoping to shoot alternative low key weddings. I have a certain way of running the business.. a certain style.. and totally get that my kind of photos don't suit everyone. But .. if it suits, and I am available I am opening up to doing them rather than refusing all requests.

I am also keen to shoot more babies and more young families... .roll on OCTOBER!

Photo In - Art Out

Thank you for all the emails and comments from people keen to know more. The workshop will be called Photo In - Art Out

WHO: This workshop is not suitable for people happily running their own successful photography business. It is designed for people starting out who would really benefit from hearing a few ideas and processes which could improve their bsuiness and the quality of their work through tighter workflow and better editing techniques.

WHEN: The first workshop will run in November for 3 weeks from the 4th - 25th November.

HOW: There will be new content twice a week - all digital!. I am assuming that everyone who attends has a life that is continuing on in the background, so I want to keep it flexible and not very time intensive - everything is self paced. I will also make myself available for up to 2 hours a day to answer emails and 'talk' through the content.

HOW MANY: Class sizes will be limited to FIVE participants so you can expect lots of one on one attention. We can also talk about YOUR business and how you could use the ideas and information we provide in your own context.

WHAT - we will cover:

Session my preparation before a session. How I run a session and how to shoot to assist you with preparing client images.

After the Session.. You have the photos NOW WHAT? Everything from file structures, naming and basic workflow including editing.

Editing - natural basic edits, managing the number of edits, using actions and setting up your practices to make the most of your available tools. (note. You don't need to be using the same actions as me, you can just reapply the knowledge to maximise your own tools).

Resources, printing, marketing and questions.

WHAT you can expect:

The content will be easy to read.. stepping you through each process and explaining why? we do it that way.

You can expect to vary it a little to suit your style.

There will also be resources and links.

I assume BASIC photoshop knowledge... but if something is not clear - ask! I will always help where I can.

(Note: if not using photoshop or you can still join in, but you need to realise some content relates to photoshop. You may be able to transfer the skills/knowledge to your program.)

Screen shots, pictures, examples  etc.. I know some people are visual learners, some like instructions.. the content will be offered in a variety of modes.

but most importantly - you can expect that you will have a tighter workflow, be better organised to present to clients, whilst your editing skills and therefore your images have improved! Basically you will go from taking a photograph to creating art.  - photo in.. art out. 

HOW MUCH?

The 3 week course is $120USD per person with participants in the first course at the reduced rate of $75USD per person.

Shoot me an email if you are interested. :)

The kinda day that changes your life.

Today was that kind of day.

Yesterday I was grumpy. Yesterday I was overwhelmed.. you know.. I blog a fair bit and I think I share a fair bit.. but I dont actually break down the ridiculous number of things in my day. Mostly because I think they people who read do similar numbers of things and it would seem pointless. LOL But.. for those of you missing the action between the lines.. I am running PWL .. having just rebranded.. I am working 5 days a fortnight at the govt in a good job in IT/ICT and education.. and I have the storyboards/your image. my edit. plus the two boys.. the big one and the lil one ;)

For the last 3 weeks I have been trying to NOT STRESS... not overload.. not take on too much.. re-evaluating.. and to be honest I thought I was doing good!

Andrew had me take some online quizzes.. (nothing better than a google diagnosis..hahaha) and apparently I am stressed. I am borderline breakdown.. I am likely to be depressed (hey not everyone gets my jokes).. and I am facing burn out ..SOONER rather than later.. (depending on the test..some thought I was already a dripping candle!)

I agreed to try cutting back.. to saying no.. to not taking it all on board. But .. I have to add.. I am not stressed. Stressed to me would be throwing a tantrum.. freaking out.. having a panic attack.. generally being miserable.. I am not any of these things. I am busy. I am organised. SURE I can account for every 10 minute block of my day from now until LATE october.. but.. that isnt stressed.

After a fabulous weekend away with my husband.. I relaxed. I actually chilled out. Yesterday I was overcome with a wave of TO DOs.. i felt overwhelmed.. i felt panicky.. I felt like it was ALL too much.. I actually got cross with andrew for using a tea towel he found in the pantry  (yep i did!) It was one of Mums she had bought over with some baking and I had put it there neat and folded to return... tea towels live in the linen cupboard. NOW I had to wash Mum's dry it... fold it again .. GOSH the things he makes me do! DO I NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO DO.. sound rational? Cause not. ..was I wrong and pathetic and miserable and sad.. YEP!

and i noticed this was me normally.. vs how chilled and calm i felt over the weekend... Mmmmm!

Fast forward to today... planning meeting at work.. I put on my suit.. freaked out about the house and started rambling to do lists outloud whilst sending out storyboards, answering emails, reading blogs, eating toast and instructing everyone ... and raced to work a titch later than planned. (and I planned it last thursday!). **groan**

Just before the meeting I was told I wasnt given a project in the new round of projects.. instead I would be working on the learning community I manage.. the projects I have been working on needed to be ... transitioned.. and the communication role was still mine.. as well as some support activities around the new projects.. and the writing position I had was still to be completed. (i work 5 days a fortnight and have far toooo many roles).

RIGHT.... NO project.. kind of a problem really.. given I am a Project Officer! Follow up that gem with.. the contract that was supposed to be extended..(i was told so last week) now may not be (gosh really and after I didnt get a project that is coming as a real shock).. (did i mention how sarcastic I can be?) and I could apply for another job at my level... which I wouldnt neccessarily get but I would be in with a good chance. Mmm It is full time. WHY would that be a problem?

So.. I found all this out.. RIGHT as the planning day began. No chance to leave.. to process to cry yell scream object or .. you know.. something appropriate for someone of my level.. like a calm and rational response. After several hours of discussing project management.. for which I do not have a project. It dawned on me.. I liked working here... under my old boss.. this new situation however feels a lil like walking on wet moss.. very slippery and changes are too rapid.

I am stressed.. sick... tired.. grumpy .. and frankly.. i wouldnt want to live with me. What kind of wife am I? If I carry on over a tea towel... I love my boys. I want to say thank you for doing the dishes.. not.. What about that tea towel? I want to teach lochie to read. I want to take photographs. I want to make dinner. I want lochie to grow more plants and learn about herbs. I want to excercise. I want to breathe. I want to go to the bike park. I want to catch bugs in bug catchers and watch them with Lochie. I want to lay on the deck and read books to him more often. I want to play pooh sticks in the rain.

AND I do these things..but not everyday. And I want to. I want to be a better wife and mother. I want to be a better daughter and friend. I want to be a better photographer. I dont want to be sick.

I dont want to sit here on August 28th and look forward to September 15th because it is the next day I get to do something for me. (which will be mega fun btw - I am shooting the flower festival with Sharon again).

So I did some math... I pay ALOT of my pay out in child care. If I have to find another job.. i would pay about 2/3 of my pay in tax and childcare. WHY BOTHER? If I pull lochie from care - he wont get the opportunities that school provides though.. and as an only child I can see the benefits. I also think it will help him settle into school later on.. and he could do with the structured day. (something i suck at providing). I would also struggle to get him back in if I pulled him (he goes Tues, Wed, Thurs,.. the most popular days). I spoke to school this afternoon though and they have said if I keep the Wed - they will find a space on Mon and Fri if I need it.

NOT working somewhere else would also provide me more time to focus on the photography business.. and I could use the wednesdays for baby shoots and families on holidays etc. I also have a couple of brides very keen for me to shoot their wedding and I am not so keen to do so because of the time factor (and the stress!) but.. maybe if I wasnt also working elsewhere??

I phoned Andrew and told him what had occured and said... I am not looking for another job for a while. I want to focus on Lochie and Painted with Light. He .. being him... said.. Thats a great idea sweetheart.. I am really proud of you.. you will do well at it and you take GREAT photos...

I love that man.. sure he uses the wrong teatowel but he is my best friend.

So... I give up!

When my contract expires.. I am not looking elsewhere. I am going to be a Mum. I am going to sign Lochie and I up for educational experiences and some fun ones. I am going to teach him how to read.. and I am going to have some fun. I am going to have a few more shoot spots available.. and I am going to breathe..

and .. it will all be OK. and .. it feels so good!

(no doubt it will feel odd at first but still.. it feels good too).

AND... I have been asked by some people about running an online workshop/course in editing and workflow.. if anyone is interested.. I will do a seperate post about it.. let me know!

No pics today.. just some revelations.

His Gift

I looked high and low for Andrew's birthday present.. some cuff links - I bought him a beautiful watch for his first fathers day (lochie was 1 day old!) .. and had it engraved etc.. so .. for his 30th.. cuff links seemed appropriate from Lochie..

I wanted something stylish and lasting.. nothing too trendy or garish.. (gosh dont cuff links come with personality!) LOL

I got these - and I think he really liked them! The lil pattern is etched in - and there is a lil stone in the middle. Kinda hard to photograph but this is OK. (Sharon - I might need you to snap them!)

and this was in the pile of photos from last night.. SOOOO not about poor Andrew.. but I just adore Lochie's lil cross eyed face... :P

Reality came in the form of a shopping trolley...

We have had a blast... a wonderful time ALL weekend.

We shopped for Andrew's new suit.. (and got a really great suit.. the best we saw him in - ON SALE!) The funny thing was I had been saying all week - we are not buying the first suit we see! - You HAVE to try them all on. LOL We found a few suits in one store.. liked 2 of them and went elsewhere.. we ended up coming back to the first store.. trying on 4 more suits.. and buying - the first one we saw..LOL

We scored some WONDERFUL bath products from LUSH.. including a massage bar (for after shoots for my poor legs!) .. some Deep Sleep bath jelly.. so fun! and hopefully works..I have given Lochie some to play with in the bath..haha and last but not least a LUX bath butter/cream bar.. oh yeah!

After check in we watched some TV.. ordered in a High Tea.. and chilled enjoying the view and finding out what the room had to offer. The view from our room.. (it freaked me out cause i am terrified of heights - i cant even do escalators!)

pretty nice huh!

and I LOVE high teas... it is a friend's 30th on Friday and she has a 4 month old, and a three year old.. I have lochie..and well.. basically.. who wants to take them all out and ask them to behave.. if time is available I thought i would make her a mini high tea head on over with all we need for a fun morning tea. Wish me luck!

This was YUMMY!

Then I fell sick AGAIN .. i just needed some gastogel.. but when we got to the porters desk.. my car was blocked in by 12 other cars..haha. So they paid for a taxicab to take us out to a late night chemist. NICE!We got back in time to dress for dinner.. and went downstairs and dined in the restaurant on the river.. It was gorgeous food.. Andrew enjoyed a seafood dinner.. and I had a smoked chicken tart and corn fed chicken breast for mains. We didn't have dessert there.. instead we walked up through the city looking for a little coffee shop... there were none to be had. The only possible option was a replica english pub with soccer playing and drunk men wishing for the mother country to win.. oi oi oi!

Soon we found ourselves back at the hotel. We decided to try their more upmarket rest. instead - and it was d i vi n e . We got the signature dish - which was crepe suzzette prepared at your table by a lovely french chef. He was brilliant.. and we watched in aww as he browned sugar, whizzed in lemons, butter etc.. poured in juice, flamed brandy and added crepes... served with vanilla bean ice cream. oh my YUM YUM YUM... divine..as I said. BRILLIANT dessert ... (no photos but trust me.. it was perfection!)

We went back to the room and realised it was LATE... we slept in.. followed by a later breakfast on the river.. gorgeous veiw huh! The river sparkled all morning.. just so peaceful!.

I caught a few photos of Andrew @ 30.. honestly... he is the hardest person for me to photograph! and then we watched an inhouse movie together.. so nice we just sat together and watched it.. few nibblies (yes there was alot of eating this weekend!) and it was time to head for home.

This is my gorgeous husband.. My partner and friend.. my best friend.. he who makes me laugh, saves me from myself and makes me coffee right before I am about to ask for it.. Love you babe! (but i really dont enjoy photographing you...LOL)

Remind you of anyone? OH MY GOODNESS he and Lochie are SO alike!

 

We bought my mum a internet mobile card... one years broadband internet... so she can finally have broadband.. poor mum has been on dialup! ack... least we could do given she gives so much to everyone. So Andrew headed out to pick up lochie.. and set up the net for Mum!Good son in law points for Andrew!

and I came crashing back to reality with the shopping. It was hard work.. i had to push the trolley! I would have happily dialled 9 for a porter, 3 for valet to bring the car around... LOL. But alas... no.. It was me and the groceries! LOL I think I liked the luxury lifestyle!

I took advantage of some quiet time and bought some helium 30 balloons.. and some glittery 30s.. and mettallic paper.. Lochie and I baked Andrew a cake with a big 30 candle in it.. and we set the table.. SURE it was a lil tacky.. but it was as tasteful as these glittery last min things come.. He had a nice afternoon tea... a roast dinner (his pref. dinner) and a big chocolate cake (complete with sprinkles by lochie).

Lochie helped blow out the candles and impressed us both with his impression of Happy Birthday to DADDY... Of course.. after a couple of times.. and the blowing out of the candles (which he helped Daddy to do .. he had to get a bit of the limelight back. and it became.. happy birthday to Lachlan's Daddy.. hahahaha

Lochie was super sweet and went and gave his daddy a big kiss and wished him a happy birthday...

SO pleased I caught it.. I do love these two!

Tomorrow is his ACTUAL birthday but he is working for a couple of hours in the morning and we are heading down the coast. I expect to arrive home tired and in need of a rest! Not much chance to fit in a big dinner etc

but Lochie has bought him a gorgeous present... will share when I can bring it out of hiding..LOL

A lil artistic fun

Just picked up these from Two Peas..

OH the possibilities!

ENJOY!

scardies!

Last night was fabulous! exactly what we needed!

Mum picked Lochie up.. I fixed her new notebook so she was happy to drive over and get him and have me download stuff on the faster internet.. :) Lochie was racing off to Grandmas to make cupcakes, eat pancakes and generally be spoiled... (apparently his grandma does it best!) ..LOL

Andrew and I had something to eat and got dressed in peace (you miss the lil things huh).. and then we headed into the powerhouse. Now.. the powerhouse is not new for me..LOL I work it 2 + weekends a month... i have MOST of my shoots there I think? but... this was new.. I got to go inside. I have never been inside before..haha. I use the grounds.. not the interior.

It is an old power station which has been converted for live performance and shows.. it is gorgeous.. inside more beautiful than out.. it is very rustic. etc. it was empty for years and they have kept all the graffiti etc. http://www.brisbanepowerhouse.org/

There was a delay in starting the show but I didnt care a bit.. they had a black and white photograph art show on.. ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy gooooooooooooooood it was FANTASTIC. i found the subject matter disturbing in most cases but the photographs.. the light.. it was all about the light and I LOVED it.. lucky for me my two fav were printed on the brochure and I got to bring them home. FABULOUS stuff!

oh oh oh how exciting I found the photographer and one of my favs. (gosh I hope they dont mind me sharing it with you here.. if so i will remove it. ) I just love the light used here.. perfection!

It is by Perth photographer - Frances Andrijich  http://www.andrijich.com.au

Brisbane Powerhouse presents Festival Nusantara

Mata Hati (The Feeling Eye) Thu 19 Jul - Sun 26 Aug 07

Beautiful, powerful and occasionally devastating, this extraordinary photographic exhibition provides a snapshot of Australia’s nearest neighbour, Indonesia.

Over 90 images capture political struggle, human experience, faith and resilience in the many faces of Indonesia including arts, politics and religion.

Photographers: Frances Andrijich (Perth, Australia), David Dare Parker (Perth, Australia), Kemal Jufri (Jakarta, Indonesia), Yuyung Abdi (Surabaya, Indonesia) and Mohamad Iqbal (Jakarta, Indonesia)

So after that we got to see the scardies.. Scared Wierd Little Guys.. JOHN AND RUSTY ROCK.. (they also jazz, and blues and croon..) ..

They are just brilliant muscians/comedy routine. www.swlg.com.au.. They do alot of cross over singing.. stump the scardies is often featured on radio here in Aust. They combine two songs..

Like.. She Bangs...to the tune of over the rainbow.. it is brilliant live. They have the audience shout out one song..and someone else choose another.

Three standout songs last night... was the Enimen (did I even spell that right?) and Waltzing Matilda..HILARIOUS.. The musical masterpeice was American Pie lyrics (singing bye bye miss american pie..etc).. and Total Eclipse of the Heart music - perfection!

the other super fun one was .. two songs that sound the same.. they did a green day song.. which name is escaping me at present but i could sing it..LOL. .and Wonderwall by oasis... at the same time...each singing one as if no one else was singing! INCREDIBLE how alike they were!

but this just led into a GREAT peice where they sang... the summer loving song from Grease.. and another song which neither of us could remember .. and they were practically identical... not that you would ever think it! and ... then .. rusty sang the two songs .. alternating one line from each (that is how alike they were!) whilst John sang Louie Louie... hilarious... and then... to do four songs at once.. the audience sang.. Wild thing... you make my heart sing.. you make everything ... groovy.... Do it in your head..LOL..wild thing.. summer loving and louie louie.... oh yeah.. ...yeah yeah yeah..... LOL

We topped that off with a BOWL of coffee. JOY fun and excitment for me! I always see comedy shows with kris.. one of my bestest ever friends.. she just gets it.. and we love it.. but she is in perth at the moment and I am missing her terribly!. I sent her a text as we went in and said.. Seeing the Scardies without you! Miss you!! .. and called her as we left the show.  As it turned out.. we went to a cafe..fairly random one..and they served bowls of coffee. (and I do like me some caffiene..haha)Which made me miss her all the more. Kris and I used to get 'betty blues' .. bowls of coffee at a cafe on the river.. and we went ALOT..LOL..drank several and often saw comedy shows..so it was kinda poetic. They stopped making the betty blues and we miss them terribly! We still go to that cafe whenever we have some important friendship milestone tho..LOL. We used to hang out there so much... We went back for our 10th Anniversary of being friends..hehe.. hey life isnt all about husbands and babies! just alot of it. I am soooo lucky to have some wonderful friends and i celebrate them!

So in October when she is back for a bit we are SO to this new place for a BOWL!

I am now about to go and poke andrew and wake him up. I am starved.. there is no food.. and I want to get this great weekend underway... Breakfast out.. and pack the bags for the hotel! woohoo

but I might have to check in on my lil buddy and see if he had a good night at grandmas first ;)

I went shopping...

OKs mentioned..clothes shopping is NOT my favorite activity. I attack it with a plan and aim to get it over and done with.

I had no luck getting pants/skirts etc today - but I did get some new tops. Seems everything was still jeans and winter things (remember.. living on the bottom of the planet it is winter here).. but it will be WARM in about 3 weeks and HOT in about 6.. so more suit type pants and jeans was OUT! I found some long cargo style jeans I liked but it will be way to hot for them soon!

I got a pair of cut off 3/4 jeans.. at least they were a little tailored in the leg.. and then it was all about the tops.

I got a white T with that fabric (name escapes me).. that is cotton with the lil cut outs (enlighten me in the comments..LOL I am having a complete mental blank!) and.. it is casual. I also scored a grey T which looks to die for comfy! .. and a black T with a bit of shape to it.. I already have a few Ts from last summer .. and I have a couple of pairs of cargos/capris... so that will do for now!

Work shirts always are hard to find. I need dressed up but not over dressed. I tend to take an each way bet and wear a nice top with a suit, and take the jacket off most of the day.  I scored a super soft and silky top from Jane Lamerton.. she always has the nicest of nice fabrics.. but they cost a bit more than I like to pay. This was reduced by 50% with a further 50% off today.. DEAL! so I scored that.. and a singlet top.. in basic black.. cant go past them! Basque do pretty nice tops too.. most of my work wardrobe is Basque/Urbane (check out myer if you are in Australia).. A black cotton top  - think serious work shirt meets baby doll.. made its way into my purchases.. as did a navy T with a grown up dot kinda pattern on it. Hoping i can wear it under a navy suit for work and with jeans for breakfast on the weekend! I also got a super cute black vest/shirt. It is black - has chiffon sleeves and collar and a solid vest middle..looks like a short sleeved chiffon shirt with a black vest over it.. sweeeeeet! Perfect for work and for dinner with the girls (whenever I get to do that! LOL)

And last but not least! I found a top for dinner at the Stamford on Saturday night (crossing your fingers does work.LOL) .. i found a cross over top.. dark charcoal, with simple circular pattern on it.. few sequins/beads in deep purple/grey/charcoal around the neck.. but you are just more aware of sparkle than a colour or bead as such.. very subtle. It flows from under the bust and is cut on the bias.. it is nice without being over the top. I expect i could wear it to dinner, gallery openings, night meetings and cocktail events if I attempted to jazz it up a lil.  ;)

and then I hit up the cheap jwellery store (Diva for those of you who are local).. they basically have costume cheap stuff.. it sparkles (dont get it wet..LOL) and it is apretty and it lasts one - two years tops! - in my case).. I got THE cutest stone (pretend diamond) with lil wings on the side very sweet.. a lil different and subtle.. and a bargain at about $10! I also got an ornate butterfly.. it reminds me of the one mum had as a brooch that I tried to use for our wedding.. but age had wearied it.. had to get it.. (can you be sentimental about new things? ).. and a bigger piece which has a mix of beads/stones in a diamon shape..kinda funky. It came with earrings which they converted for me (i dont have my ears pierced but it I am not sure i will wear them. AND.. last but not least.. a necklace with grey beads from Diana Ferrari. OH MY GOD I LOVE DF!

Most of my shoes are from DF.. they fit! they are comfy and they are stylish! but today I went in the store. It made me want to start dieting and exercising NOW.. they make the most beautiful clothes.. i am not a clothes person but i would have paid for all of them twice.. they were stunning quality and exactly what I would like to wear! I also ordered in a pair of the coolest nicest shoes EVER.. I can not wear heels (and at nearly 6ft who needs to?) but these are special.. very very very nice.. they have a pointy toe and look like girly girly shoes.. and they might just almost fit! LOL I WANT THEM! .. and they were on sale so I am trying my best!

If not I will just get these...

They are cute and look easy enough to wear.

I managed to get a pair of casual shoes today tho.. always a challenge for me. I tried desperately to get some over the top yellow/orange canvas shoes.. i found all sorts.. LOL but none in my size... I wanted them for shoots.. instead.. I bought my first ever pair of Nikes.. i didnt realise that they were Nike until I paid for them..lol. the $39 price tag didn't exactly give it away. So .. i guess I might be becoming one of the cool kids.. Nikes and a trip INSIDE the cru bar last weekend.. They are casual, comfy and should be good for getting around on weekends and to the shops. They are white with 'birch' toe and pink arrow/tip on the heel..

Dont hold your breath.. i am not going to be cool anytime soon!