Christmas Merrymants

So I stumbled across my other Christmas blog on the bore that is Boxing day and thought it only too appropriate that I should clarify this year.

As I glanced over the words and felt the embedded emotions of last years release I realised that an incredible amount has changed in my life and right now is the happiest I have been in a very long time.

So far this holiday season, I've been overwhelmed with love and adoration, written an email I needed to, smiled a lot, napped a bit, calmed slightly, gotten a hair cut, felt like I belonged, had my heart ache with too much love. It's been a good last couple of days.

I have removed some very poisonous people from my life and despite a loved one still lingering in that environment I let them have very little to do with me. I have taken posession of myself and will let no one else try to spin their depraved and harmful words my way.

I have acquired a job that I never thought would come along my way. It is great fun and I work with a fantastic troop of intelligent and beautiful ladies. My previous job I tolerated for a very long time and then began hating, I was good at it but it delivered me no satifaction, it was never a career. I now am in a place where I can begin a career and start to mould my skills into what I want them to be.

Moving out of the comforts of family was a big step also but one that I definitely don't regret for a second. Even when there's no toilet paper or food and I realise bills have to be paid. I live with someone I adore and cherish. Things were hard at times, as to be expected but it's okay because in the end... she gets me. We support one another in all that we do (I am still trying in some areas) and she is incredibly special to me even when she's a fiend and leaves toothpaste in the sink.

I want to apologise to all those people that I have not been as diligent in keeping in contact with as I would like. I am sorry for not being the good friend that I could be. I've felt like I've needed to sort myself out these last few months, being in a new living space and head space. I am losing some good friends to that friend stealing monster - the travel bug. They will be missed greatly and I will think of them as they do things only I am dreaming of at this point. I hope they are safe and keep their wits about them. Always remember deodorant, the camera and to stop and enjoy those little things you don't see often - then I know you'll be just fine.


In my last blog I wrote I know that next year will be better. And it has. My faith has been restored within myself - I know I can do better. I have someone who isn't afraid to tell me he loves me, it's vulnerability at its most beautiful. He makes me extremely happy despite his antagonistic hobbies. He cares for me undeterred by my OCD/phobic nature and for that I adore him.

I am naturally one who pokes holes in my life and thinks that things could be better in this area, or for this reason but I must learn to be more content with what I have. I couldn't ask for better friends or family. I am healthy, loved and cared about. What more could we all ask for really??

Growing up is confronting but it's okay if you've got some alright buddies, a glass of riesling, a house named shoeberry and a boyfriend who loves to jiggle your tush (despite your rampant protests).

my heart goes bing because of them.

#9 - Create an environment I adore

I have to officially admit that i LOVE our house.

And it's not just the horsies and spatulas on our chrissy tree or the egg chair or retro couch or accumulation of humble crap or the lace curtain blowing in the wind. It's great because it comes with a special tart.

We bicquer but at the end of the day it's all good and Shoeberry's here to rescue us from our troubles. We love him.

There's no place like home.

#56 - Make a pretty bookmark

I made a bookmark for someone special for christmas. It's for her and is very her. I would show a picture but it might ruin the surprise you see :)

#71 - Updated

I got a reply and it was fantastic. I smiled and rekindled a friendship.

goooo onnnnnnnnnnn DO IT.

rekinndle something, anything!

As long as it isn't poisonous or self-harming.

#99 - Get A Lamp For Beside My Bed

So I finally found one after much waking up at 4am with my lamp across on the room on and having to crawl out of bed and turn it off.

I found this baby at Crazy Clarks (of all places) and I'm very happy with her. It's cheerful and tacky, and we all know I love that combo.


Plus it's a touch lamp, IT'S AWESOME!!


The other tart loves to come in and 'touch' it, A LOT.

I love lamp.

#78 - Go See VAN SHE

I was a little excited when the Van She show was announced. Poor Ash beared the burden of a screaming Say down the phone yelling inaudible things like "vansheareplayingvansheareplayingatthezoooatthezoooimshoekcited!!!" I've liked them for a little while now and haven't been able to see them live. I'd recruited some groupies by then and Ash being the amazing friend she is said that she would purchase the tickets as I didn't have a credit card and some other fiends had no funds on theirs.

The night finally arrived and I'd had a couple crouchen's so I was a little happy. Upon arrival I realised however that I didn't take out enough funds for the purchase of some merchandise but once again Ash came to the rescue - THANK YOU SO MUCH ASH!! and allowed me to borrow some dollars and I was the new proud owner of a VAN SHE t-shirt.
The gig finally started and I was so ecstatic as they started with Sex City - the sexiest song on the EP of course. It's my fave.

It was a fun night and I'm pretty sure the Zoo is my favourite venue so it was an all round good gig. It was rainy out but hot, steamy and dancey in. We were happy little puppies (or mostly just me).
We even had our photos taken by a fasterlouder photographer - we're famous kids! HA.

I LOVE YOU ASHMACHINE

#29 - Grow My Dim Record Collection

I recently set off to paddington to see what goodies I could find. The tarts local oppy seems to be Endo's and inside I found a classic 80/90's cusp treat.

'Whispering Jack' by none other than good ol' Johnny Farnham. He was my first concert at age 4 and I loved it (despite falling asleep). I love this album because it reminds me so much of my Mama. We used to sing it together on trips to and from school. Those were the days.

#38 - Bake Something Special for Someone

I've recently started a new job and I decided that for a colleague's birthday I would bake. This was the first time I had tried my handin this skilled arena. I had some small assistance from a regular baking maestro that happens to reside in my house but I must admit I mainly figured it out for myself. It was a messy trip but one that I wont forget too soon.

Sure they weren't as perfectly iced as they could've been but they yummy and much appreciated by the ladies. I must say they did go down nicely followed by a smooth glass of moet.

I must explain the 'marriage' love hearts, as it was Rach's birthday and she was leaving to go and get married. How exciting life can be.

#94 - Buy Some Hot Pink Lipstick

I actually bought two. It was buy one, get the other for one cent at Target!!! It was awesome.

I love it. I have recruited others since, Ms. Florence has purchased some of the pretty pink since.

#93 - Send Miss Carina a letter

I've been meaning to write this lovely lady in forever. I think hand written is a lot nicer when you get the chance. I even wrote it on hilariously tacky, yet cute paper for her.

She left me some love on my facebook page that went a little like this:

Carina B. Velásquez (San Francisco, CA) wroteat 3:41pm on November 2nd, 2007

my lovely, sweet sarah-jayne. i got your wonderful letter. it made my day! but you forgot to enclose your return address. please send it to me so i can write you back.

xo lovelles you!

ps-the tea was fantastic! what was it? and what was the entire quote? i believe i lost a part or something.

She has since written me back and it made my day also. If you get a chance - perhaps write a long lost friend a letter? Or even someone you see everyday. It can be more powerful than you think.

#91 - Get Medicare Sorted

So I finally went and got a ticket and lined up at the medicare office and sorted out my card details. It should be on its way soon, within a month or so.

Waiting in the medicare office was all that I had ever dreamed of.

#90 - Get a Credit Card

I ordered, I was approved online, they rang my work, they verified my details, officially approved me. I had my shiny red card within a week or so. How scarily easy the ability to (over) borrow money is.


I only truly acquired it because I want to buy stuff online - mainly TICKETS! Hopefully I wont now be in debt for the rest of my life.

#69 - Cut down on Coke

I am very pleased to report that the Shoeberry household (being Laura and I) have not bought one of those econo-carton packs of coke in forever (mostly because it's been a bit too pricey but that's not the point). I am drinking a lot less of the stuff that's for sure.

Now just to cut it out completely..... hmmm. Nah, don't think that's necessary.

#71 - Email Vanessa

I'm so happy I've fulfilled this one.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the lovely Vanessa - she is an ex-teacher's partner who came to help out one semester for one of our classes and I simply adore her. She is an artist in the true sense.

It's really nice when you finally do something that you know will make a difference to someone's day (and I assume this because it's been so long between communications - not because I'm someone super famous or amazing or something). I await her response.

Oh I found a picture of her as well. Doing her thing.

#95 - Buy some red tights

I've had this one in the back of my mind for a while now never sure if I'd actually look good in a pair.

But I was brave and ventured to Myer with Trudy one lazy Sunday afternoon when they had 30% off all hosiery (being the bargain hunter i am) and purchased some red tights (as well as purple). I wore them last night and was pleased even though lau told me I looked a tad british - I was red, white and navy you see.

#76 Have a housewarming

I just realised that I've crossed a thing off my list without explanation or evidence. Shoeberry was host to a fun and rambunctious housewarming one September Evening. It was eventful and fun for most.

Blogspot wont let me post photos right now, but I promise to adhere to providing evidence that the event took place. Most of the kiddies were there anyway and know I'm not fibbing.

So I tracked down my old photo bucket - apparently it still exists and I may be able to post some photos from there I'm told....

Here goes nothing....

#84 - Make a pie & #97 Overcome my fear of the oven

Ok, so at the point when i started this list I had never made a pie from scratch. Trudy inspired me when I was at her house once and I saw how easy it truly was. So one night when Ash and Trudy were around I decided to try my hand at it. I made a morroccan lamb and vegetable pie accompanied by some yummy potato bake. Turns out it was a hit, WOOHOO!. I have made a few pies since then. The last one Lau and I worked on together. We made a chicken and vegetable and provincial white wine and cream sauce pie - was a tad runny (next time we may add some corn flour). But it was the yummiest yet.

I also threw #97 in there as well because this truly overcame my fear of the oven - pastry and oven, something I probably never would've attempted about 6 months ago. I have to say I'm a bit proud of the whole thing. Moving out really was a good idea. Who knew.

Apologies for no side servings of photo's, a let down i know but next time I bake a pie or something amazing appears to come from the oven I will post a photo to let you know I wasn't fibbing.

#54 Tea Party

54. Have a tea party for girls only

Well I didn't completely organise (in fact im' pretty sure Lau did pretty much everything) but we did have a tea party in Shoeberry. Cupcakes and proper teapots and everything.. It was much fun and a tart even made chocolate cupcakes - they were grand.

this is hopefully a lead up to number 80. perhaps we can enjoy it again sometime soon.

so it's begun.

perhap's it's an infectious obsessiveness circulating shoeberry but i've become a blog fiend tonight.

let the (blog) fiends of the night unite.