Meet Yellow Pepper

My newest love is a kitchenaid.

It's in yellow pepper, a colour that won my heart the first time I saw it but that I had a hard time tracking down. This yellow (and many gorgeous colours) were discontinued a couple of years ago to make way for the platinum range.  Platinum smatlin, I didn't care too much for all those metallics.

Anyway, this yellow beauty appeared on e-bay two weeks ago.  It was two years old, barely used (so the ad said, at least), and only two suburbs away.  I was feeling a little like it was high time I bought one, I bake so much and even occasionally cater a party. (Shameless plug for my own services there, references available on request!)  Plus I'd held onto some birthday money for over six months. I swore my name was written all this little baby. 

I was willing then-and-there to spent the five hundred to "buy it now."

In my husband and I's relationship we run the big purchases by one another, as I am sure most people do, not asking for permission just sanity. Usually one of us is more sensible and rational, the other is a little excited.

We take turns.  Sometimes he's the crazy one, like the time he didn't even hesitate when I called him from Ikea saying 'You know that leather couch we love, the one we all sat on, the soft comfy one with chaise where we could cuddle up on, can I buy it now?" Not even a pause before the "yes," bless him.

Than time I got off the phone, looking around Ikea wildly, thinking "He just said I could spend a ridiculous amount of money, just like that."  Looking around like people could see the insanity oozing out of me.  I went with his and my irrationality and I am glad, because we still love that couch, and no we never have time to cuddle up on it.

Well, this time Aaron was the sensible one.  He pointed out that the auction had three days left on it, and that there wasn't even one bid.  He said I should wait and see what happens.

It was a long three days.  I watched it, agonising the whole time. On the Saturday of its closing, I was still saying "we should get it." I was afraid someone else was going to get  their hands on all of it's beautiful yellowness.  Time was winding up, no one was bidding,  I said Aaron "Lets get it, I have the $500!" Again with the voice of reason "Let's offer her $350."  Never telling me no, just being reasonable.

She said no to $350, but eight minutes later she listed it at "buy now $400" an, Aaron immediately said  "buy it now." I wasn't understanding all these mixed messages - did he want me to have it or not?  All this shamozel, is this how e-bay works is this what you're meant to do?

"Hit the button then, hit it!" I shouted.   I was panicked someone else would get my Kitchenaid!

I think there was dancing in my kitchen when he hit the button.

He was right, he'd gotten me a bargain I saved $100, that's a lot to us.  I was (in the end) pleased he'd taken control.  Even though he was frustrating the hell out of me!

A few days later and it's a pleasure every time I see it on my bench. It's even more a pleasure when I use it!  Watch this space, a baking onslaught approaches.

secret project: dad (part 2 of 2)

yes, I do live in my own wardrobe, by various brennemans.

I wondered whilst writing this whether this post would be lost on those of you whom don't know my husband Aaron. I thought it might be. Nah the sheer kick I got out of this ought to tell me that all you like-minded folk would appreciate the humour and the thrill of this big secret. If you know him you are probably in fits already.

Firstly I want to share the inspiration for this project in case you want to make one of your own. Black Apple's Paper Dolls. This book came to us one day in the post from a life-long friend of Aaron's. She had meet Beatrix on our last visit to the United States two years ago. I know that she will be thrilled to know that Beatrix has used the book and that she conspired and used the book to surprise her Dad. I hope she gets a good laugh too, seeing as she knows Aaron well.

The dolls are printed on thicker card and the clothing really evokes the character and style of each featured fictional character.

Beatrix took one of the dolls and fashioned it into her Dad, complete with specs, tattoos. Seeing as she'd begun this project on the day he was home sick she had access to his bag, his specs, and his shoes. We each had episodes of tip toeing in whilst he was cocooned in blankets to rummage for his clothing and socks.

I caught her sneaking out with a note pad with the drawing of the pattern for the shirt with boxes on it. I thought Ohhh my, she knows how to do her research, I love it. The following day whilst we had full access to the wardrobe she sought out his red long sleeved t-shirt with the circles. She knew that he'd worn this at her birth and every birth since. He was blown away by that, I tell you.

I know you might be thinking does he actually get around in pink stripy socks with skulls and does he actually own a top hat, and who would wear crocs with socks? Yes and yes and yes. I knew he lacked some kind of conventional style when I very first meet him. He has no idea that you cannot wear a hoodie and a hat at the same time. I never knew just what a caricature he was till we played around with the outfits and were laughing out loud.

Even the way these paper dolls lend themselves to movement and motion whilst being still. The one particular outfit he is kind of jutting forward shirt too small and body leaning sideways, that is him all over. We even asked Eliza (who is four) who it was when we had put an outfit together and she said "Aaron" we laughed even harder.

I cannot tell you the admiration I have for Bea's skill, the technique and attention to the smallest detail, she is only ten. The only help I gave was stitching on the drawers for the wardrobe.

I highly recommend surprising someone you know with something like this, particularly if they are a slightly peculiar individual. Aaron was just taken aback, he told me quietly "Can I say this is the best present I have ever been given?"

secret project: dad (part 1 of 2)

secretprojectad: commence, by various brennemans.

In my last post I mentioned being ill with Bronchitis and being looked after.

The letting go of all your normal tasks, the hope that your partner will go out there and be just like you. That they will hang that basket of two day old laundry, that they will unload the dishwasher before making more dishes, that they will eat fruit,just let it all go.

This time I tried not to think, to make it harder it was Sunday, I always like to tie things up on Sunday for the start of the week. Father's Day there was no breakfast in bed or cards or handmade gifts. Or gifts full stop, since I was sick in bed again.

Monday found all children home from said school and Aaron returning home at 10 am looking pale and lethargic, no questions asked it was my turn to do the looking after.

My eldest being only slightly sick wanted to make Aaron his Father's Day gift. I knew vaguely from my Death Bed on Sunday that she had attempted a mobile phone holder, but that she gave that one up. Well come Monday her new idea seemed like it would be fun, that it would be a bit of work that I'd give her some help. I didn't expect to be blown away at her determination, her accuracy her sneaky sleuth skill at gaining resources for her project.

Lucky her dad was barely conscious in bed, on a couple of occasions I was almost caught.

This project took all of Monday and some of today because between the two of us we were getting really carried away!

This project made me think this 10 year old daughter of mine is just something special. At times you know I am a lost in her and her dad's shared sense of sarcasm, their like minded maddening sense of humour and intellect as she pulled off the best Father's Day- birthday- anything- present ever.

She knew what would tickle his humour and she nailed it. And hey I cannot be too envious of their father daughter thing when her artistic nature came from me, we had fun the two of us.

I will show you all the real thing tomorrow, cause truth is it's late here and I am needing to fight this chest thing. I need to be well on Friday, too, cause somebody is turning the big four-oh.

in sickness and in health

lego, phone, mirror, by various brennemans.

In a week where I have been ill (with bronchitis) I managed a day in bed thanks to a very caring husband.

I had two days of feeling pretty off and then an Ok feeling weekend, and then BANG, coughing, chest tightness, shortness if breath to the point where unpacking groceries required a sit down to catch my breath. I'm on the mend, and am thankful for my husband, my friends, and for a new Frankie magazine. Also thankful for the nice bedroom I managed to create this weekend whilst having a good day, it has made every early night pleasant.

Here is the footstool I also covered on the weekend, after semi creating a sewing corner in the lounge room, ahem maybe this is why I ended up sicker after the weekend. Sometimes you know It's really hard to know what's good for yourself.

Note on the footstool, it has an elastic to make it easy to change and to wash,this wasn't my original intention but staples through hardwood just won't work. So I am really glad for a happy accident.

I hope you are well in your world.

Inesxx