Postcards from America...

I know, I know. I said I'd be posting my finished wedding invitations! However, when I was cooking dinner tonight, I was looking at my fridge at all the postcards on it. My uncle recently got back from a 7 week trip around the USA (lucky thing, I'm so jealous), and sent me a lot of postcards along the way. I don't know how it all started, but we have a tradition between the two of us of finding a story card postcard to send the other person wherever we go. I think it stemmed from that my uncle sent some to me many years ago now, I complained that all I was getting was educational postcards rather than real postcards, so I sent him a story card in retaliation, which he of course enjoyed, and now it has gone from there.

So, I share with you, postcards from America:

My fridge, covered in postcards.

From the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC

I set my uncle a challenge in New York and Boston to find me story cards where I would actually learn something new. This one talks about elephants walking the bridge in celebration. I did not know that ever happened.

From Graceland. He has found a typo and corrected it on the front!

From New Orleans. I liked this one as it had all the Deep South slang.

This one was from somewhere along the Mississippi, about some weird girl whose boyfriend went off on a boat and so she was so desperate for him to come back she spent the next 50 or so years until she died, standing on the same bank of the river, waving a cloth or something at every boat that went by in case one of them had the boyfriend, he saw said weird waving girl, jumped overboard, and they were reunited. Needless to say, it never happened and she died with the waving cloth in her hand. What a miserable way to spend your life, and never get over a first love.

From San Francisco.

From the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

From Boston, about Paul Revere. Again, I knew some of this stuff, but learned some new things.

It was funny because most of the cards were titled 'Did You Know?' and had the same font and all, like they're all produced in some giant postcard factory in some boring state in America and sent around the country to their destinations for purchase.

Last night was open night at school so wasn't home until 8:30. Today I was wrecked. Tomorrow I promise I'll post about my wedding invitations. I'm so proud of them and they look really good.

Before I go, what do you think of postcards? Love getting them? Hate having to write them? Think they're a waste of time and money? Do you keep postcards people send you or do you recycle them or throw them away? I love getting postcards!

Sephora shopping list...

Derek's been in the US for the last few days now and is going to be heading off to the shops at some stage to pick up all my favourite items I discovered when I was living in Boston that I just can't get over here in Melbourne (or can get for triple the price!). I know a couple of days ago I said I'd be showing off my now-finished wedding invitations, but that will be a post coming your way soon. For today, I bring you...

The Sephora Shopping List
Sephora is such a great shop. I wish they had it here. They have some great items with their own brand, a good rewards scheme, and having all the cosmetics and perfume you can dream of under the same roof is such a great concept. Why they don't have anything similar here, I don't know. Derek will take the list to a Sephora, hand the list to one of the many sales assistants, and get them to fill it for him - easy! This is what I have on the shopping list so far for Derek:

Sephora Collection Fragrance Atomizer, $3.00 USD

This will be great so I can carry around my favourite perfume on my wedding day.

Sephora Collection Classic Rounded Blush Brush, $24.00 USD

I'm after a round, soft, large brush for applying my NARS Orgasm blush. My current brush, a Manicare one, is fine, but it is a little small and gives a bit of a concentrated application - something you don't really want in the Orgasm blush! I'm hoping this brush is more soft and bigger.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion,  $24.50 USD

This is one of my skin care staples. It is essential some of this be picked up for me (even if it sits around for awhile before it's used) because it is sooooooo much cheaper than here -where it is over $70!!

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2, $12.50 USD

Twelve dollars and fifty cents for this toner?? Unbelievable! This also is in my daily regime and can't be passed up for the price.

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap, Mild, $16.00 USD

Also part of my morning routine, also something dirt cheap in the US.

Christian Dior Diorshow Mascara, black, $25.00 USD

I naturally have pretty long lashes, and this mascara really makes my eyes pop. I love how this mascara does a great job of fluffing out my lashes and making it look like I have heaps more lashes than I do.

Lancome Juicy Tubes, Spring Fling, $18.00 USD

I love Juicy Tubes. I love the Spring Fling flavour/colour. You can't get the Spring Fling shade in Australia. It is a perfect netural gloss. I love how Juicy Tubes last for ages on your lips and take a bit to come off. Whenever anyone is shopping for me from the US they know to buy several of these so I'm kept well stocked.

Now one thing I haven't purchased is more primer. I used to use the NARS primer with SPF 20 but they have changed their primers and now have an oil free one and a SPF 30 one. I don't know whether to get this again or get the Smashbox Photo Finish primer. This product has rave reviews online and my sister got it for her wedding, and it is fantastic. I guess its worth a try.

Anything I've missed? Considering getting Derek to pick me up an eyelash curler, as well. I'm also interested in maybe giving eyeliner another go. I've never been very good at applying either liquid or pencil eyeliner, but I like how it enhances my mascara. Anyone have any recommendations of good eyeliners to get?

Flashback to the 90s (A.K.A. 'Report Writing Procrastinating')...

After a quick wander at Chadstone this morning, followed by lunch at my Mum's house, I came home and intended to write some reports. Unfortunately, they're not due for another 2.5 weeks, and since I work better under pressure, it's been very hard to get started. We have to write about 500 words per child, and quote specific pieces of work they've done and everything. It's a pretty time consuming process.

Of course, I got distracted on YouTube. I was commenting on a friend's Facebook status and it got me thinking about the 90s back when I was in primary school and we had discos, because me and this friend used to love going to discos at school! We also used to listen to Ugly Phil (remember him?) on the radio every night and talk about the number one songs on Rage each weekend. So, I bring you some of my favourite songs from my school time heyday:

First up, Twenty 4 Seven with Slave to the Music. Too bad this poor girl's jeans are so high waisted they nearly cover her belly button. They do not look comfortable. Not too sure what's up with the random frog throughout this clip, either, but this was one of those good disco songs back in the day.

Next we have The Sign by Ace of Base. This song stayed at number one for about 79 weeks - well it felt that way, anyway. I love this song and was so excited each Saturday morning when it was number 1 on Rage. I didn't remember how much making out there was in this film clip. Loving the graphics, and the curly haired guy getting right into the dancing in this clip.

This one was one of the favourites to sing along to at the school discos. It's Dum Da Dum by Melodie MC. Enjoy the random cat in the song's film clip. This girl singing in this song has on those John Lennon round glasses which got super popular in the 90s, and you could buy them at the Reject Shop for a couple of dollars. Wow, classy times!

One of our teachers used to DJ the discos and he always used to put on this song to get us all hyped up and dancing and yelling. It was actually pretty fun. The song is Boom Shake The Room by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jazz.

Although not a disco song, as this wasn't out until 1998, this song was still popular back in the day. I remember watching the film clip for this at a friend's house on a Sunday morning on Video Hits after a sleepover. All the girls knew exactly when the quick shot of the top of Taylor's boxer shorts (definitely not jocks) were shown. If you can't remember, never spotted it back in 1998, or are keen to see some red elastic holding up his boxers, check out the video at the 0:15 second mark. I will confess that I really still like Hanson. They have some great songs and really hate when anyone bags them out as the MMMBoppers. It's just plain ignorant to me.

What were your favourite songs of the 90s? I can't believe that awful techno dance music was so popular and I actually liked dancing to it!

All by myself...

Well, it's official. I have survived a night alone in my house! Derek has finally made it back to Boston over 24 hours of travelling. It feels very weird being at home alone. I literally don't speak from the time I get up until I go out somewhere and then when I get home I don't speak again. Probably good I don't have anyone to talk to this evening, as I was belting this out in the car on the way home this evening and now have a croaky voice and tender throat:

Mariah Carey, #1's

There are some very good songs on here, and it was dark while I was driving home so no one could see me sing along, hand actions and all like Mariah does to hit her high notes, LOL.

Yesterday, I found out I was successful in getting the last ongoing position at my school! It's very exciting as ongoing positions are like gold in Victorian government schools. It's a bit of a right place, right time situation, and since I've had some time off teaching when I was living overseas, I was never at the front of the line at the schools I've been at. I was chosen over two other candidates from our school, which is really quite a difficult position, but now I am set for life. I never have to interview again. I can take family leave for up to 7 years and my job will be there when I get back. I never have to write another six page application for a job, or apply and interview for a job that is already mine. Like I said, gold.

Today I went to my Mum's house and had lunch. After lunch, we went to the local shopping centre for a stroll. Of course, I went into JeansWest, and of course, I made a purchase:

JeansWest 'Rosie' cardigan, black, $39.99 AUD (reduced to $33.99 with Gold Membership discount)

I purchased this cardigan in black and bone (no picture available for bone). It has a really nice cut that is longer in the back and curves around the back really nicely over your hips. Cardigans are great for me because I don't really feel the cold, and some people at my work would have the central heaters (which are old-style and come from a boiler room which overheats the whole school to one roasting temperature) on all day if they had it their way. My classroom also seems to be the hottest in the school, so I have to have all the windows open so we don't all cook by morning tea. Heat blasting in from one wall, and cool air from the windows on the opposite, is a perfect recipe for cooking up illnesses, and everyone gets colds galore.

After our venture at the shops (where we treated ourselves to a hot cinnamon donut each from Donut King), we went back home and watched a pretty ridiculous movie:

Oklahoma! DVD, $13.95, AUD, Big W

This movie has very little storyline and is pretty typical of the movies of the day which had people breaking into song and dance where normal people would be talking in normal voices and using their hands to gesture as they talked. My Mum purchased this DVD a little while ago for us to watch together as we went through all The Partridge Family DVDs and had a great laugh at how bad that show was, and Shirley Jones (the mum in The Partridge Family) got her screen break in Oklahoma!. One day, Shirley Partirdge (Shirley Jones) sings the lead on a particularly funny song, Whale Song, in a giant opera voice, and you can often hear her voice going nuts in the chorus of the other Partridge Family songs, so I was killing myself laughing at this over the top singing and my Mum told me she was a Broadway singer and in some musical movies, so that is why she sings the way she does. Hence, us watching Oklahoma! this afternoon came about. Easy way to kill a few hours, if nothing else. 

Pretty bored at home alone. At least I have Foxtel to keep me somewhat entertained with bad reality shows. Tomorrow I have semester one school reports to write (it's about 500 words per child and 25 grades to assign per child, multiplied by 23 students in my class, so obviously takes awhile). My Mum has invited me over for lunch tomorrow (my sister and her husband will also be over) so I may detour on the way over to stroll Chadstone (my favourite shopping centre). I've also nearly finished my wedding invitations - just have to print a few more envelopes and put everything in the envelopes! What a big job it was. Tomorrow I hope to share my invitations with you all.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend. Since I've got the house to myself the next two weeks, I'd love to know, what do you like to do when you have the house to yourself? Do you relax, treat yourself, pamper yourself, watch TV no one else you normally live with is interested in, eat chocolate for breakfast and toast for dinner, or anything else enjoyable/strange/entertaining?

Wedding rings and flights to the US and nasty people...

So, the last few days have been pretty eventful.

Firstly, Derek's grandmother passed away and now he is heading back to Boston on Friday for two weeks to attend the funeral. His mother had some minor surgery the day after his grandmother (her mother) passed away on her bunions so Derek is feeling he needs to be at home and see how his mother is doing right now, as well as be at the funeral. It's going to be tricky as we can't really afford the trip with our wedding only 4.5 months away now, but what has to be done, has to be done. We have found some cheap flights through our travel agent flying United, which is a pretty average airline, but is over $1300 cheaper than anything else, so can't be passed up. It'll be a pretty dull two weeks by myself but at least I'll have plenty of time for reports!

Today, Derek also picked up my engagement ring, which was at the jewellers for the past week so that they could design my wedding ring to match it. They just wanted my ring back so they could match everything up exact. The results are pretty good:

Derek's fingers are a little bigger than mine! He is acting as the ring hand model.

The jeweller is excellent. He takes his time to do things properly, he gives us lots of options in different price brackets, and he meets with us in person and for as long as we want to design things. As he's a wholesaler, in that he designs things for the big brand jewellers like Michael Hill and whatnot, and only does a few personal sales, we also get a lot more bang for our buck. For example, my engagement ring was only a third of what it would cost if it was sold in a retail jeweller. Pretty good!

I was meant to me a bridesmaid for a now ex-friend. To cut a long story short, she:

• initially asked me after telling me she'd kicked her sister out of the bridal party because they had a fight, then asked me to replace the sister. Kind of offensive I was a 'replacement', but since she was a friend I said yes. The wedding coincided with my grandmother's 80th birthday, so would be tricky but I said OK. Keep in mind this girl has also kicked another girl out of the party around 6 months ago as she didn't see her often anymore (the girl live in Canberra and has for several years, so that was nothing new).
• told me, after I asked what the financial commitment would be as I have my own wedding to consider, that she would pay for everything. After ordering the dress she then changed and said I had to pay half the dress, which is $150.
• picked up the dress, and never delivered it to me. I asked several times to bring it over since I'd paid for it and needed to get it hemmed. 
• told me several weeks after picking up the dress it was a size too big (shop's fault, apparently) and I'd need to alter it. No mention of her covering the cost for altering since she didn't check the sizing, and never bothered to return to the shop.
• when I told her that would be a big cost and time involved in altering it, she said if I wasn't prepared to take care of it myself, she'd find someone else to fill the dress (cue jaw drop, everyone who has heard this story has literally had their jaw hit the floor when they heard the comment).
• After thinking about it overnight, I was highly offended and told her so, mentioning that since it sounded like she may have someone in mind she thinks is better suited then maybe I would need to step aside for whatever she's thinking.
• The girl then proceeded to crack the sads and try to blame it all on me, saying I did the wrong thing, even though she offended me twice by asking me as a replacement, then saying she'd find someone else to fit the dress if I wasn't going to alter it on my own time and dollar, even though she either ordered the wrong size or didn't check the dress when she picked it up at the shop.
• I asked repeatedly for my money to be returned, and explained I needed it immediately to help pay for Derek's flight home as it had suddenly come up that he needed to return home, and as she claimed she had a new girl and the shop was altering or replacing the dress at no cost to her as they issued the incorrect size. She refused to return my money unless she felt like it. I gave her a strict deadline, and even though she repeatedly texted me with obscenities and similar unintelligent language, I replied that I expected the return of my money by 4 P.M.
• Later in the day, I got more abusive texts, stating things such as 'I'd need my money too if that was half the budget for my wedding', 'I'd be embarrassed if I was having my wedding in a pub', and other complete untruths. Whatever she likes to make herself feel better. Water off my back. 

So the girl turned out to be a totally horrible, nasty, mean bridezilla who had some issue with the dresses (her sister is pregnant so perhaps she needed a different dress ordered to fit her sister's increasing size) and tried to pin the responsibility on me. Who knows. Who cares? People are horrible. I never really wanted to be a bridesmaid as I was always offended I was asked as a replacement. She was never a close friend and we barely saw each other. I just want my money back. I'm yet to see it. 

Tomorrow, I have an interview for my own job at my school. There is one last ongoing position on offer at my school that three of us are eligible for. I think I'll be fine but it's still a worry as I've been waiting to get ongoing and be off contracts since I started teaching in 2007. Fingers crossed!

Tomorrow, I'm going to post my shopping list I'm sending Derek with back to Boston. I know he's going for family reasons, but I'm jealous I can't go as I love Boston, it's been 2 years since I was last in America now, and I'm dying to go and walk around there and shop! 

So, tell me, what would you send your fiancé to purchase if he was going to America? What are your cult beauty products you can't live without? Anything you think I should get as a treat from there in preparation for my wedding? I would love your suggestions!