On the 38th day before Christmas...

Only 38 days until Christmas! *insert warning siren*

Sing along with my happy little Christmas song. Can be sung to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

In the 38 days until Christmas, I have a few little chores -

buy presents for umpteen family and friends

clean the house and garden to host the family Christmas day

prepare for Josh to change schools

attend a job interview

get the dog clipped

send out Christmas cards

help Josh with his science project

FIVE STIFF DRINKS NEEDED!

4 Christmas parties

3 ballet concerts

2 school prize-givings

and a gymnastics competition!

Lalala! Are you feeling Christmassy yet?

I'm beginning to think that in Australia we do it all wrong - having summer and the end of the school year and Christmas all at the same time. It's too much!

Couldn't we do Christmas in July when it's cold and dreary and we don't have anything else going on???

So, how are your Christmas preparations going? 

My Interview Outfit

I know you've all been dying to find out how I'm going putting together an outfit to wear to my job interview.

It's quite a tale, given that:

(a) I don't enjoy browsing. I like to go into a shop knowing exactly what I want, find it, buy it, go home, THE END.

(b) I have found that Murphy's Law prevails, even when shopping, i.e. when you know exactly what you want, it is impossible to find.

(c) I have a limited budget.

(d) I am curvaceous.

So, I found some luvverlee shoes. Take a look:

They are from Colorado. The shop, not the state. When I saw them last Wednesday, they were 40% off. The shop didn't have my size.

When I looked for them on Friday, they were still 40% off. The shop didn't stock that particular style.

When I looked for them on Sunday, they were still 40% off. This shop didn't stock that style either.

When I successfully found my size on Tuesday, they weren't 40% off anymore. So I paid full price. Boo :(

Yeah...if I'm going to have that much trouble with shoes, you can guess how much trouble the rest of the outfit was.

So, I tried to stand in front of mirror and take a photo of myself dressed up in my outfit, but it wasn't exactly working for me. So here is my outfit laid out on the couch:

Hahaha, I have no idea why the photo comes out sideways! I promise on my computer it is up the right way, for some reason Blogger wants it to look like this.

Anyway, the top is from Jacqui E. It is cream and has some chiffon detail around the neckline. Pretty :)

The pants are charcoal and are from Target. They are super comfy and look nice, but unfortunately did not come with a matching jacket. I've searched high and low for a jacket that will work, or a suit that fits well and I can afford, but no luck.

Today I picked up a nice short-sleeved cardi from Rivers that I thought might work. The photo didn't turn out too good, but hopefully you get the idea:

I liked the top from Jacqui E so much that I got one in "mocha" too. I took a photo showing how the top could be worn left out over the pants as well as tucked in:

Hahaha, Blogger has decided that this photo must also be sideways!

Anyway...whaddaya think? Did I do good?

All opinions will be gratefully received :)

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

I seem to have lost my reading mojo lately. I've had several books on the go and haven't been able to make much headway on any of them. I decided to try a sure fire quick read to get me going.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich.

Borrowed from my local public library.

"Celebrity chef Stanley Chipotle comes to Trenton to participate in a barbecue cook-off and loses his head - literally.

Bail bonds office worker Lula is witness to the crime, and the only one she'll talk to is Trenton cop Joe Morelli.

Chipotle's sponsor is offering a million-dollar reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the capture of the killers.

Lula recruits bounty hunter Stephanie Plum to help her find the killers and collect the moolah.

Stephanie Plum is working overtime tracking felons for the bonds office at night and snooping for security expert Carlos Manosa, aka Ranger, during the day. Can Stephanie hunt down tow killers, a traitor, and five skips, keep her grandmother out of the sauce, and solve Ranger's problems and not jump his bones?"

If you've read any of Stephanie Plum's previous adventures, you'll know that she is a magnet for trouble. In this episode, Lula is in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnesses Stanley Chipotle's decapitation. She decides that the best way to catch the killers is to enter the Barbecue Cook-Off. Before long she and Grandma Mazur have taken over Stephanie's mother's kitchen testing out a variety of barbecue sauces. What could possibly go wrong???

At the same time, Stephanie is trying to do her job capturing criminals that have skipped bail and is also helping Ranger to investigate a number of break ins at properties that Ranger's company provides security for. Considering how much trouble she gets into in the course of her work as a bounty hunter, it requires considerable suspension of disbelief to accept that Ranger would specifically want Stephanie to help him with this investigation. And I'm finding it increasingly difficult to understand why Stephanie is so irresistible to both Ranger and Morelli. But I guess we all know that these books are just a bit of fun and we don't expect them to be realistic!

There are lots of funny moments courtesy of Lula, Grandma Mazur, a cross-dressing guy in a chicken suit, and various other disasters involving fire-bombs and the local flasher. As usual, this is a rollicking ride from start to finish.

So what did I think? I'm finding that you can have too much of a good thing. I'm feeling a little bit "over it" fifteen books in to the series. Did I enjoy it? Yes, but not nearly as much as I enjoyed previous episodes. It's getting to be a bit "same old, same old" for me. Will I continue reading this series? Probably. And I am looking forward to the movie version of One for the money. Though I am finding it hard to imagine Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum...

Versatile Blogger? Or just good at rambling about anything?

Aw shucks...my blogging buddy Dillypoo has bestowed me with The Versatile Blogger award!

Here are the rules when accepting this award:

• Thank and link back to who gave me the award.
• Share seven things about myself.
• Pass it along to seven blogs I've recently discovered and enjoy.
• Leave the recipients a note telling them about the award.

It goes without saying that I really appreciate receiving this award Dillypoo! Thankyou.

If you haven't discovered Dillypoo's blog, then you really should check it out. She has recently reached her goal weight after transforming herself from a couch potato to a sleek and slim exercise junky. She blogs about her weight loss journey, her life in general, and Harry Potter (!). I am just a wee bit jealous of her collection of HP memorabilia including a wand and several snitches.

Now for seven things about myself.

1. In terms of shopping, I'm a hunter, not a gatherer.

I know the stereotype is that women love shopping and can't think of anything better than a day spent browsing at the mall, but that's not true for me. I go shopping with the intention of buying a particular item or items. I focus on searching for exactly what I need, and when I've successfully found it, I am relieved and head home a happy camper. Even when grocery shopping, I have my list and walk briskly up and down the aisles throwing items in my trolley as I go. I don't stop to check the specials or new products. I just want to get in and out as quickly as possible.

2. Sadly, I am not a domestic goddess.

In my imagination, I love pottering around the house keeping it neat and tidy, I bake regularly, I have a little kitchen garden growing herbs and vegetables for cooking, I do crafts, and I decorate my house cleverly by putting together a  combination of second hand and new items that fit my personality. In real life, however, I struggle with housework and don't have the patience for gardening or crafts.

3. I'm a sucker for teen TV drama.

I know I'm "too old", but I loooove me a bit of teenage angst. Beverley Hills 90210 (the original), Dawson's Creek, The OC...I've done them all! My current faves are Glee! and The Vampire Diaries.

4. My hubby and I were "childhood sweethearts".

I really lucked out with my wonderful husband Chris. We started going out when we were sixteen and married when we were twenty-three. The longer that we're together, the more I realise how truly blessed I am to have Chris. He's an easy-going guy who is friendly and can talk to anyone. He's naturally a practical person, can turn his hand to anything, and is always willing to help people. Everyone that knows Chris agrees with me that he's quite a catch! I'm a lucky girl.

5. I am turning into my mother.

More and more these days when I look in the mirror or listen to myself speak, I see and hear my mother. And though I love her and admire her, it's still a very scary thing!

6. I find being a mum very challenging.

I don't feel that being a mum has always come naturally to me. Between the daily challenges of food, sleep and discipline and the big decisions of schooling and activities, I often feel like I'm making it up as I go along! I've done a lot of things I swore I never would, and haven't done things that I was determined to do. Somehow it all seems different when you actually have kids, rather than just looking on from the sidelines. I think my kids are fantastic, so I hope that at least some of that is due to me!

7. As for religion, I'm a questioner.

And I think that's all right.

So now to pass on The Versatile Blogger Award to seven other blogging buddies:

Shannon at Welcome to the Nuthouse!

Dan at Single Dad Laughing

Kate and Lydia from Rants at Mommyland

Brandy at You don't know...

Missy at Two Little Monkeys

Heather at Lost in the View

Susan at Gray Matter

Now I just have to visit the above seven blogs to let the bloggers know about the honour which I have bestowed upon them!

I hope this post encourages you to visit a new-to-you blog today. Leave a comment and spread the love.

How I'll Unclutter my Life...When I'm Ready

I've been reading Unclutter Your Life: Transforming your Physical, Mental and Emotional Space by Katherine Gibson for a few weeks now. I picked it up from the library on a whim. I always browse around the 100's (Philosophy and Psychology) because I'm interested in that sort of thing. I saw the title and thought, "Hmmm...I could do with that!" and brought it home with me.

I don't think I'm alone in feeling that I simply have too much stuff. Not just the physical clutter that I suffocate under in my house (and have to move around to vacuum!), but also the "should do" guilty mental clutter. I think in our fast paced lives many of us are quite desperate for some space to just breathe.

I learned two important things while reading this book.

1. This is not the right kind of book to borrow from the library. It's really better to own this kind of book. Why? It's not a book that you read from start to finish. Each chapter deals with a different sort of clutter and has a list of practical actions that help the reader to address that particular issue in their own home and life. This book is therefore more suitable to use as a reference to dip into from time to time as the need arises.

2. I'm not quite in the right place at the moment to deal with the clutter in my life. In order to make real changes in your life and deal with clutter once and for all, you have to make a determined decision to do so. Like quitting smoking, or losing weight, de-cluttering takes commitment and self-discipline, and it must be a high priority in your life. The benefits are great, but it takes work to get there. I've realised that at the moment job-hunting is my main priority beyond my regular daily duties as wife and mother. I don't have the additional time and energy required to undertake de-cluttering right now, especially as this time of year is particularly busy in the run up to Christmas.

I plan to buy this book or a similar one to own at home. That way, when I'm in the right space to undertake this sort of project, I'll have the tools I need to make it work.

How about you? Do you live a life of simplicity? Organised chaos? Just plain chaos?!?