Wistfully Waiting

How long do you think it will take this wisteria...

to look like this wisteria??

Oh and CONGRATULATIONS to the Cats. Go Geelong!!!

Flashback Friday

Oops - nearly forgot. Mum and Dad are back from their travels so I was able to get my hands on an album.


Here is a photo that brings back memories of camping trips taken every Easter at Tocumwal on the Murray River.

Every Easter we would load into the car at some ungodly hour of the morning, preferably while it was still dark, and head up to the Murray. I remember Mick and I would go straight back to sleep in the nest Mum and Dad had made on the back seat. No need for seat belts in the 70's obviously. Why Dad felt it necessary to leave so early I have no idea - must ask him.

We would then spend a glorious Easter with a couple of other families doing what kids do best... swimming, digging, swinging out over the river on a tyre, eating jaffles, hunting for wildlife, making fires, (you could do that in the 70's too!) and generally running amok and having a ball.

There would be a massive communal fire going day and night, trench toilets that you filled in as you went, 3 of the mums were teachers so there were always activities going for anyone who was interested. One year we dyed every tea towel with natural dyes we made over the camp-fire and bark paintings that eventually became part of a gallery exhibition we put on for the grown-ups. Every night there were poetry recitals, charades, camp-fire songs, and more jaffles and sticks sprouting hot runny marshmallows.

The tents were triangular and orange and there were very few mod-cons but what splendid times they were.

Note - left to right, Jenny Pearson, Sally Waring, Georgie Gamble, Jason Gamble (up top), Cindy Gamble, Mick Pearson (on pole)

Penelope Peapod

Recently we received our first shipment of Penelope Peapods...

These delightful cane baskets transform from a carry bag to a baby bassinet in the blink of an eye. After carrying around your super-cute bag you can fold down the gingham to reveal a sleeping baby complete with matching suit and hat. They are beautifully made and are the delight of little girls of all ages.

Forget Bratz, this Christmas Penelope Peapod is the way to go!

Hot Product

My great gift pick for this week is.....GEL GEMS
They are made of a clear rubbery substance and will stick to most smooth surfaces, including stainless steel fridges!! They look absolutely amazing when on a window as the light through the gel is gorgeous. We have ballerinas, boats, dogs, butterflies etc and they range from $10 to $19.

Spring has Sprung at CHALK

I spent most of the day yesterday trying to fit all our new stock into the shop in some semblance of order. Customers were very understanding and stepped politely over piles of tees and baskets of squeakers as I tried a bit of re-jigging.

It is always such a fun time of year when all the new seasons stock starts arriving - as I ordered it all about 8 months ago I get a real kick out of opening boxes and seeing everything again.

It also gives me hope that summer is indeed on its way... in our shop at least.

I took home some bathers for the Gidget to try on as I couldn't resist. It's the first year we've done anything more than a spattering of girls bathers and they look so summery all hanging in a row. They are only $28.00 each so I think I'll have to get a couple of pairs.

I Love The 80s

I didn't chose this photo so much for the hair as the outfit. I have such vivid memories of this windcheater - I thought it was the coolest thing. Tight, banana, and a khaki palm tree. HOT!!!! And tell me you had shoes like these! They were 'ice cubes' and I had them in about 3 different colours. Jeeez they must have been uncomfortable. A slave to fashion way back then. By the way this is 1981.

Photos and Facts

I received my first couple of Christmas photos for CHALK's window display today which was very exciting. I can't wait to see some more so hopefully you are all checking your albums as I write!! When I get a few more I might post some and get you all to choose which ones I should make into posters!

I also wanted to add a point to my tag post from yesterday. A few people have emailed me and can't believe I left off one of the weirdest things about me. (They think it's weird, I don't particularly).

9. I have never been pissed, or even tipsy. I don't drink alcohol.
Apparently a lot of the world's population find this strange especially as there is no religious or cultural reason for it. I just was never interested. I always get asked lots of questions when people find out like... 'Did you have a bad experience?' 'How did you kiss boys, sober?' 'How can you dance sober?' etc. etc.

Tagged

Lou Lou over at Totally Innocent has tagged me this week so I thought as I had nothing else of any interest to share with you all I would try and do as she asked...

First the rules....
a. Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.
b. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.
c.At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog!

Some of these will be obvious to anyone who reads my blog regularly but some might not be...here goes.

1. I have always wanted to be in a musical - Unfortunately I can neither sing nor dance but a girl can dream. I used to watch 'Oklahoma', 'Seven Brides For Seven Brothers', 'Singing In The Rain' etc endlessly, wishing that I was Debbie Reynolds or Shirley Jones. I still watch 'Grease', 'West Side Story', etc and itch and twitch to get up and be a part of the magic they create. I firmly believe that 'High School Musical' is the best thing to happen to television in decades!! Which brings me to my next point.

2. I still think like a sixteen year old! - My friends endlessly tease me about my love of all things 'teen'. Give me a movie set in a high school with a couple of cute leads and I am hooked. 'Blue Water High' is one of my favourite TV shows! I love knowing what is in the top 10 and have a Myspace page and a Facebook page. I own Avril Lavigne CDs and Mandy Moore is one of my favourite actresses.

3. In another life I believe I was a 1950's bobbysoxer and a cheerleader!!!

4. I ate jam sandwiches every day of my life until 2 years ago. I only limited them due to peer pressure to eat 'better'. Now they are more a weekly thing although I still have jam toast every morning. In Kris's household I am known as 'The Jam Sandwich.'

5. I don't think exercise is at all good for you. Everyone I know who exercises regularly is injured which proves my point. In my 20's I was known as the 'Three-toed Sloth, due to my dislike of expending unnecessary energy. (It may also have had something to do with the pack of Dunnhill Grey I smoked every day for 15 years!)

6. I love reading. I will read the side of a cereal box if I forgot to take my book to breakfast. I read in the car while stopped at lights. I can read and walk home at the same time. I always carry a book in my bag because you never know when you might get 5 minutes to read. I used to invite friends over to swim at my house and then spend all afternoon reading. (sorry Alex!) I usually have a couple of books on the go for different occasions - one that fits in my bag, one for book group, one to read in bed etc. I am also a book nerd because I prefer classics to modern lit. I also have a habit of reading certain loved books over and over again.

7. I am a Primary Teacher who worked at an all boys school before having kids. Prior to that I managed a restaurant in Richmond and worked in retail (visual display and merchandising focus) for 10 years.

8. Cotton wool makes me FREAK! I can not stand it. Even talking about it sets my teeth on edge and blocks my breathing! It's not that easy having babies when you can't touch cotton wool. I can't write any more...blahhhh!

One Red Robin

On Saturday Johanna from One Red Robin dropped off some fabulous, handmade, one of a kind softies. (I have borrowed these shots from her site as I forgot to take my camera to work.) The huggable bunnies and rabbits are just waiting for little hands to love them and take them home.

This is the gorgeous Chibi doll I fell in love with and now resides at my house.

This is the last order Johanna is doing for a while so they really are very special.

Chibi doll $39 and huggable cat and bunny $37

The Questions Kids Ask

I've just been laughing out loud at a post over at Creative-type Dad and it reminded me of my own dilemma during the week. It was a gorgeous sunny day and the kids were playing Power Rangers in the back garden (as you do) while I was gazing perplexedly at the weeds in my front garden, when all of a sudden both Power Rangers came storming down the hall to tell me about the cute little animal in the back garden! Apart from Oscar the big black feline, there should be NO cute little animals in our back garden so I went out to investigate.

Well it was an animal but since when has a MASSIVE DEAD RAT been cute?????

Big black feline must have had a hand in this I suspect but he was giving nothing away and looking the picture of innocence as he sunned himself in the middle of one of my flower pots (another gripe for another day!).

Back to the MASSIVE DEAD RAT! Both kids were crouched over him/her and Moondoggie asked if he could pat him!!!!! 'Because he looks so cute and soft Mummy.'

After screaming out 'NO!!!' and scaring the crap out of both kids, so much so that the Gidget nearly pitched forward on top of the MASSIVE DEAD RAT, I repeated it in a calmer voice and tried to explain why they couldn't pat the cute, soft, furry, MASSIVE, DEAD, RAT. They didn't get it. They still wanted to wrap him up in a blankie for God's sake.

I now realise that I should have just told them that both their arms would drop off if they touched it due to it being radioactive from living in the sewers for so long! We live and learn.

PS - Needless to say we did not venture into the Back garden again until Kahuna got home and 'disposed' of him.

Mowing Protocol

What exactly is the protocol when mowing your naturestrip?

My neighbour and I have a fabulous system going where we mow each others naturestrip whenever we are doing our own. This ensures a gorgeous streetscape outside our homes with half the effort. (I have to admit that I am not the one that aerates the grass, or fertilises! )


We also do our next neighbour who I don't think even owns a mower! But how far do you go? Do you stop at the first driveway? Do you venture over and be a good Samaritan? Do you run the risk of offending if you don't ask if you can mow first? (what if they like their grass long)

I figure that as I have the mower out, I'm happy to keep going if it's needed but I'm scared I will offend.

And my next query is why are so few people willing to go to a bit more effort and help out their neighbours?

I know I am very lucky because not only does my lawn get mowed but my bins also mysteriously get put away. I LOVE KINGSVILLE!

BABYLEGS AT CHALK

The wonderful BABYLEGS haven't been mentioned before in this blog so I thought I'd share them with you. They are an American product that was developed by a Mum to keep her babies legs warm during nappy-free time. Since then she had discovered that kids of all ages love wearing them. They make fabulous leg warmers for chilly spring mornings and are so quick to peel off when the sun warms up. I have even been known to wear them on my arms in cooler weather!

And of course they are just perfect for the budding ballerina!

They come in one size so the taller you are the lower on the leg they sit. We have dozens of styles and colours and at $17.00 they are one of my top present picks.

CHOCOLATE LICK

Has anybody had a chocolate lick??

Now no dirty references here - I'm talking about the amazing taste sensation at Max Brenner Chocolate Shop. I had never been in the store, probably due to knowing I do not have the will power to control myself once in a cafe that specialises in Chocolate, anyway the kids and I went in last week and it has taken me this long to be able to tell you about it without copious drooling.

THE CHOCOLATE LICK - A little ceramic bowl brimming over with Max's warm, melted, liquid chocolate, topped with white milk drops that slowly melt too while you are indulging. It is served with a long handled stick to dip and lick and it is AMAZING!! The waitress even suggest the kids try to drink it. WOW - they were in 7th heaven and I have to admit so was I.

(At $2.00 a pop it shat all over those stupid chocolate smartie cookies that taste like cardboard.)

I don't know if they have any other stores but this one is at the South end of Highpoint so if you park in the swimming pool car park you'll be out the front of Max Brenner. Do yourself a favour!!!

Flashback Friday

Weddings\formal\Sunday best

This is Christmas Day in the mid-70's outside my family home in Glen Iris, Melbourne. I particularly remember this Christmas as it was the first time I felt really grown up. I felt so pretty in my floral dress and I had such lovely strappy sandals as well.

These are two of my Aunts on the left and my wonderful Grandma on the right. Looking closely at this photo I have realised that my family all had pretty good pins! I love the fact that my Dads idea of dressing up for Christmas meant a very tiny pair of belted denim shorts. Go Dad!

This post has reminded me of something I have been wanting to ask all you wonderful Bloggers. I am looking for a Christmas photo to enlarge for my Christmas window display at CHALK. I am after a family photo set in the 60's or 70's (even 80's) showing a typical Christmas scene. If you have one in your albums, and are willing, I would love to see them in the hope of choosing 2 for our window display.

Please email them to j.kielys@optusnet.com.au

Have a great weekend - maybe drop in and visit me at the shop on Saturday and brunch in Yarraville...

Green Thumb

The last month or so I have been looking out the windows of my house and feeling a sense of defeat. The garden which has seen no love throughout winter (because I am an absolute wuss when it comes to the cold) is in such dire straights that I don't know where to start. This last week of glorious sunshine has seen me finally tackling the problem and I have been weeding, edging, mowing my arse off and slowly beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I had come to the depressing conclusion that this might be as good as it gets..(crappy soil, no rain, needs mulching, etc) when my next door neighbour emailed me some photos he took of my garden last summer.....


I am now full of enthusiasm and excitement and can't wait to get stuck back into it again. How could you not when there are flowers like these just waiting to to be loved into bloom.

(I now have a totally inflated view of myself as a gardener and think I am pretty shit-hot as a horticulturalist!)

HOT ITEM - ROBEEZ

For those of you who have babies or toddlers who are constantly losing a shoe or sock.. you know that frustration of looking into the pram only to discover one naked foot and no sign of the the missing article which effectively renders the pair useless.... I have the answer to all your troubles.

ROBEEZ

These amazing shoes from Canada are the answer to every parents prayers. They are guaranteed not to come off through foot rubbing etc , they are machine washable, can be put in the dryer and are recommended by podiatrists.

There are many copies of the original Robeez on the market but these are by far the best.

I can not rave about them enough - I love this product.

They retail for $42.00 with the winter boots at $49.00

We can order in any style or size if what you are after is not carried instore.

They range from 3-6mths up to 18-24mths in the boots and even bigger in the shoes.

And the winner of the 'My House' competition was..... Alison Herbst from Gourmet On Gamon in Yarraville. Congratulations Ali, you were the closest and the first to guess my new house address.
It is the Gilmore House in Stars Hollow Connecticut USA.
I super prize from CHALK will be winging its way to you in the next day or two.
And I promise that soon I will write a post that is actually related to CHALK seeing as this is the CHALK blog!

Not Another One!!

First there was Brad and Jen which I still haven't quite got over..Now it's Heath and Michelle!!

I love this couple. They just seem right to me. Obviously I'm not a very good judge as the news has just hit that it's splitsville for them. So in memorandum....

Perhaps the only silver lining is that these two may now make a match of it! Now that is one hot couple.

My New House

Just wanted to share some shots of my new house!

Does anyone know where I'm moving to??

The person who can tell me the most accurate address will receive a prize!(something from CHALK but I'm not sure what yet)

P.S. Happy Spring, and a pinch and a punch!