Merry Christmas

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Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and safe New Year.

Drive safely, take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Thanks for stopping in at Good Mum Hunting, I appreciate every single comment.

xx

Last few days...

New House Renovations -  Have knocked down walls

The ensuite in the master bedroom. This was a small bathroom + small walk in robe, now it will be 1 large bathroom with double shower and double vanity.

Abi enjoying custard at the McKinnon family Christmas dinner last weekend

McKinnon / Robinson family sitting around the unique decorative tree with toy decorations

Abi with her Aunty Weezie at the Sydney Aquarium on Friday. We had a great day although the aquarium itself was a bit of a letdown. Wildlife World next door is much better in my opinion.

Rainbow on the M2 last Sunday. It was a double rainbow. I managed to control myself, unlike this guy.

Abi looks REALLY sleepy in this photo. This was taken at the David Jones window display at the city store today.

Lux Xmas Wish List

Michael Kors Chronograph watch. I have this in black already, but the yellow is CUTE!

1 week's vacation here in Bora Bora

Holga 120FN Camera

Louis Vuitton Denim 'Sunlight' Tote

Ray Ban :Ladies Specs



Flashback Friday.

Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood

Last night the Gorillaz played in Sydney and I didn't go. Tickets weren't that expensive, but until last week, I thought I would be going to U2 this week already and didn't want to commit to 2 shows in 1 week.

Well, I didn't go to U2 and I'm kicking myself that I didn't go last night. Some friends on facebook said it was the best show they have ever seen, best live band setup, best this, best that.

Needless to say, I'm upset but I'll get over it.

This song is one of my favourites. Their clips are always brilliant. I'm stunned that Damon Albarn was so talented and successful with Blur and then managed to start another band who became just as, if not more, successful.

Single Parenting again

As I type this, James is boarding his flight to Singapore.

I desperately wanted to go with him on this trip for many reasons. To finish my Christmas shopping, to stuff myself full of dumplings, catch up with old friends and most of all, to take Abigail back to her birth place.

But Singapore being strict with their medical system, restrict entry into the country for pregnant women past 28 weeks pregnancy. This is to stop tourists and locals of neighbouring Malaysia/Indonesia/Thailand who used to cross the border to give birth and receive the amazing level of medical care which is prevalent all over Singapore.

Although I am only 27 weeks, I didn't want to risk arriving in Singapore and being turned around at customs!

James travels to Singapore often and I'm sure there will be an opportunity to go next year after the baby is born. I would love to take Abi back to see some of her old friends and try the local cuisine and see the sights.

My favourite mall in Singapore is The Paragon. Designer labels everywhere, but also quirky shops and a whole level dedicated to Children's shops. The basement level is a huge foodcourt with a massive Din Tai Fung outlet. We used to eat here at least twice a week, stuffing ourselves with pork buns and dumplings.

We had a whirlwind weekend of Christmas shopping, a progress inspection at the new house and yesterday, my inlaws had their family Christmas lunch because most of my inlaws will be away on the 25th December. I envoked an early slumber last night by stuffing myself full of turkey, roast vegetables and apple sauce. The meal was delicious. I actually like that I have another 2 weeks to prepare my belly again before another big meal on Christmas Day.

Abigail was an absolute gem as we shopped all day Saturday. We spent a few hours in the new Sydney Westfields which wasn't too busy. I did get tired quite easily as I'm starting to carry a big bump and required little pit-stops every few minutes. We took her to the park in Pyrmont just before sunset so she could run around and play. I will miss that amazing park when we move to the suburbs. But our own yard with play equipment is much more fun and convenient!

Tomorrow my Mum is coming into the city to stay with me for a few nights which will be a blessing! It will help curb the lonliness and we plan to Christmas shop and enjoy this one-on-one time with eachother. I can't wait!

Flashback Friday.

Bjork - Hyperballad (Live on Jools Holland 1996)


My favourite Bjork song of all time. This live version of it is amazing. Bjork is in a league of her own. I think she is often misunderstood and criticised but at the end of the day, she is so talented.


This song is just so magnetic and powerful. Enjoy!


Robyn, a famous Swedish singer recently covered this song at the Polar Music Prize 2010, with Bjork sitting in the front row. Robyn's version is pretty amazing too.

Xmas Gift Ideas - Random & Cool

Lego Digital Camera - $169

Translucent Porcelain Egg Candles - $30

Hairglasses Headband - $20

Lil' Vampire Pacifier - $4.99

Holga 120 TLR - $175

Yoda 4G Mimobot 2.5-Inch - $39.95

King Ken Series II 3.5-Inch - $7.95

Girl Crush

Anne Hathaway. Love her or loathe her. I love her. She is different to other actresses. She doesn't seem to be a show pony or diva or tart it up too much.

Rachel Getting Married is one of my favourite movies. I was stunned after watching it. Hathaway was brilliant in it. Other movies I've enjoyed include Alice in Wonderland, Brokeback Mountain, The Devil Wears Prada and Get Smart. I cannot wait to see her latest movie 'Love and Other Drugs'. Bride Wars was terrible, but Kate Hudson was a train wreck to watch.

She is hosting the 83rd Academy Awards in January next year which was an interesting announcement, I wonder how she will do. That role is usually reserved for much older and respected Hollywood anchors like Billy Crystal, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg.

All images via weheartit.com

Theme Songs - Baywatch

It's embarrassing I know. I was a huge Baywatch fan. The early seasons were the best. This is the intro from Season 3. My husband admitted to having a crush on Erika Eleniak and I know I loved Hobie and Eddie too. Oh the shame!


The theme song is unfortunately awesome though. Some of the episodes were so disgustingly soppy and sad. I remember my sister and I crying in a certain episode with disabled children doing a special olympics event on the beach. That Mitch Buchannon, always doing the best thing for his community!


I have even seen the Baywatch Hawaii Movie, which is just ridiculous to admit. I'm laughing and cringing just thinking about it.

Single Parenting

He is there:

And I am here:

That's our apartment building in the middle of the photo.


James is in Melbourne for a conference and will be home on Thursday. Another week of single parenting. I'm still not used to it. Neither is Abigail. She knows when he is packing and knows his routine. When he is away, she becomes SUPER CLINGY to me. Like, follows me into the toilet, screams if I put a load of washing on, whinges for things she knows she isn't allowed to have, like chocolate and biscuits and chocolate, hehe.


Luckily, she still sleeps well and eats well. But I always struggle. I watch TV in bed till I fall asleep. I triple check the door locks. I don't sleep very well. It's even harder when I'm pregnant because my hormones are out of control and I cry on a whim. I've already had a big cry today.


What can I do? My husband has to travel for work. He always has, he probably always will. Next week he is off to Singapore for a week which will be harder. I have Dr's appointments and things planned. Hopefully my Mum is coming to stay with me in the city and we will hit the shops together and the Aquarium too.


I can't complain too much. I have many friends in WA and their husband's work in mines and on oil rigs. Away for 4 weeks at a time. Home for a week, then off again. And another friend of mine, her fiance is based in Melbourne in the Army but she is here in Sydney. They make it work, but it's tough on them. She said that's the life of an army wife!


Tomorrow, I will force myself to get out of the house to do something. Perhaps the park or playground. Hmmmm

Flashback Friday.

U2 - Stay (Faraway So Close)

I have tickets to U2's 360 Live Show in 2 weeks but can no longer attend. James is off to Singapore for business on the same day so I'm giving the tickets to my sister to sell to friends.

I'm not too bummed as I'll be 27 weeks pregnant and trekking out to Homebush for the night will be hard, especially if it's hot and humid.

I'll keep my happy memories of their show from 2006 and hope that they tour Australia one more time before they retire.

In the meantime, here is today's flashback. One of my ALL TIME favourite U2 songs. This song is brilliant, and I love the acoustic version played in this video.

Happy Friday everyone.

xx

Currently - The November Edition

Current Book(s): I am about to start the Harry Potter series. Love the movies, have never read the series though. I'm a doofus.

Current Playlist: A real variety this month;

• Deadmau5 & Wolfgang Gartner - Animal Rights. Turn this up loud while driving alone = instant cool.
• Katy Perry - Firework. I'm not a fan of Katy Perry, but I love this song.
• Glee - Teenage Dream. This is better than the original!
• Calvin Harris - You Used to Hold Me
• Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - Dance The Way I Feel
• Jamiroquai - White Knuckle Ride
• Josh Pyke - The Summer. This song is amazing. It reminds me of being young and when summer was everything. Driving around with my husband, enjoying the sun and beach.
• Kanye West - Runaway. Love him or hate him, his stuff is always hip. Love this new clip too.

Current Shame - Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Chocolate. Pringles. Softdrink


Current Colour: Red and Green for Christmas

Current Drink: Water. Milk. Chocolate Milk.


Current Food: Salmon, Meatloaf, Chicken Schnitzel, English Muffins, Weetbix, Milo.


Current Favourite Show: Glee, Wife Swap, Gossip Girl, 30 Rock.

Current Wish list: Winning jackpot lotto before Christmas. Seriously.


Current Needs: A nanny to help me with all my Christmas shopping since James is off to Melbourne and Singapore in the next 2 weeks. Nanny Fine would suffice.

Current Triumphs: With my husband's help, we have redesigned our new house and demolition starts in a few days. Our new floor plan is amazing and I can't wait to see it completed in a few months. Additions include louvre window walls, a huge butler's pantry and his n her home offices. Mine is off the family room, James has his own seperate office with bathroom, which is down the path from the back of the house.


Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Not that I control it but, the rain. When will it stop? OVER it in a big way.


Current Celebrity Crush: Ryan Reynolds. Yes, he's a pretty boy, but VERY pretty!

Current Indulgence: Icecream for dessert. It's naughty I know, but so yummy. Gaytimes and Cornettos are the best!


Current #1 Blessing: Life in general. New house to move into soon, new baby on the way, James passing his 1st semester of Grad School with distinction, Abi growing up before my eyes. And 2010 nearly over. Time for a new beginning in the suburbs with my growing family.


Current Slang or Saying: 'Cripes'. I sound like an extra from Home n Away in the 1980's. I can't stop myself.


Current Outfit: Black Gap V-Neck Tee. Grey Bonds skirt.


Current Excitement: I'm 25 weeks into my pregnancy. I've been so busy preparing stuff for the house, that I've been mildly distracted from the pregnancy. I'm due mid March 2011 and cannot wait for our trio to become a quartet.

Current Mood: Excited about the pregnancy and renovations at the house. Sad that James will be away for most of the lead up to Christmas. Even sadder that we won't have much of a summer holiday while we renovate.


Current Link:
Baby Kingdom for baby items
Bebe for baby items
itunes for new music

The countdown is on!

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas


Finally, December is here. The countdown is on till Santa drops into town.


This is one of my favourite carols ever. I actually don't like Mariah Carey AT ALL but her Christmas album is stellar. I've been nice all year, I'm sure of it. I'm writing my list today.

Story Time!

Here are Abigail's current favourite books. Like me, Abi knows them word for word.

Dr Seuss was a genius. And a nutcase at the same time. His books send you into instant tongue twisting stories and take you to strange places. Fox in Socks is one of these. I almost stutter reading this. James however, is much more fluent than me.

Abi loves this story just as much as the original. The Cat is very naughty but redeems himself in the end by helping the children clean up the mess he makes. A classic story.

This story is about machines. Abi loves the rescue helicopter, the crane and the tractor. The illustrations are great in this book too. Now when we drive down the Cahill Expressway, Abi chimes to the machines on the side of the road "they can work all day!" which is the ending sentence on every page. Very cute.

This is a really cute story indeed. The illustrations are fantastic. The story involves a stick man who loses his way from his family tree and goes on a scary adventure to the park, the beach and almost into a fireplace! Santa rescues him and drops him home on Christmas Eve. A great read.

A classic children's book. This naughty tiger comes to tea and eats and drinks everything in the house, including all the water from the tap! The family have no dinner so they go to a cafe for dinner. The next day the little girl buys some tiger food in case the Tiger comes back, but he never does. Abi likes the illustrations mostly.

Flashback

Me and James, dining in Niseko Ski Resort, Japan [February 2005]


I look so young here. Because I was. The sweet age of just 23.

James and I went to Japan for 3 weeks in February 2005 and visited Sapporo, skiied at Niseko, Rusutsu and La Pointe, ventured to Osaka and then Tokyo.

It was a trip of a lifetime, we had the best time ever. We still talk fondly of that trip, our memories are happy ones. We drank sake and beer every day, ate tempura and noodles, curries and sushi.

We skiied our hearts out in powder and froze our butts off every day.

I'd love to take Abigail to Japan to ski. The food, the scenery, but most of all, the people, are just amazing.

I love this photo so much. My life before marriage, before children...

Flashback Friday.

Roxette - Listen To Your Heart

Classic Friday tune.

My husband actually saw Roxette when they toured in the early 90's. I thought he was SO cool when he revealed this to me, in later years.

Happy Friday everyone.

xx

Flashback Friday.

Eddie Murphy / Rick James - Party All The Time

Happy Friday to everyone. Today's flashback is dedicated to my Dad because today is his 60th Birthday. A very special day indeed.

I helped my Mum organise a surprise party for him tonight, on board a luxury yacht on Sydney Harbour with his closest friends and family.

This week on the golf course, one of the invited guests let it slip to my Dad about the party tonight. Mum was devastated but got over it quickly. So Dad knows something is happening tonight, but has no idea what.

My family have organised babysitters, and bought new dresses. Ipods are charged and are full of his favourite music, canapes are being prepared as I write this and his favourite alcohol is being chilled below deck. We have a magician doing a short performance as well as a poker table set up so my Dad can play his favourite game on board too.

I made a DVD slide show of family photos which will run on the TV on board. And I bought a memory book too for all party guests to sign.

I'm heading down to this salon in a few hours to get waxed and have professional make-up applied too.

So think of me and my sister tonight, on board this yacht, dancing away on the harbour. The weather in Sydney is perfect today and hopefully will ensure a balmy night on the seas.

Thursday = sunshine, packages, italian food & laughing

James is working from home today. I love when he works from home.

The stupid tenants hadn't moved out yesterday (settlement day) and so we had to go back today and see the house empty. James took Abi along so I had the morning to clean the apartment which wasn't too bad because THE AIR CONDITIONING is finally fixed and it's nice and chilled in here.


Some lovely parcels arrived today from Peter Alexander and LarkMade. And my subscription to Real Living arrived too so I can sit on the sofa and enjoy my read this afternoon.


I suggested going out for lunch today because James is off to the USA on Sunday and Abigail and I will miss him to bits! So off we went to Fratelli Fresh's in-house cafe, Sopra in Walsh Bay. We ate zucchini flowers stuffed with goats cheese, ragu bolognese and linguine lemon+chilli. Abigail ate her pasta and breadsticks like a princess. Surrounded by ladies who lunch (and drink!) and men in suits having meetings.


Look at my loves, smiling and waiting outside for a table in the sunshine. Abigail danced her chicken dance while James and I discussed how much we will miss dining the city.

Tonight my mother-in-law is minding Abigail while James and I head to see Robin Williams at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. We are both huge fans of his movies and stand up performances so I'm sure we will come home with sore bellies from laughing so hard.

All in all, a great Thursday. The sun is out. The breeze is fresh. It feels like a normal spring day today. Finally!

Crazy

No air con for 2.5 weeks makes me crazy.

Tenants not moving out of our new house today makes me crazy.

Having to go back tomorrow and inspect the house again makes me crazy.

Sweating all day and night makes me crazy.

Only getting 3 hours sleep last night makes me crazy.

Crazy.

JT - I Think She Knows...

I am a huge JT fan and love all of his solo work. I even *like* a few N'Sync songs too, mostly because of him.

This song is definately one of my favourites, the interlude for the song 'Love Stoned'.

While I don't mind JT taking time out to persue acting, I cannot wait for him to record another album. If it's anything like FutureSex/LoveSounds, then I'll be very happy.

Girl Crush

I utterly love Winona Ryder. So does my husband. He's always had a crush on her.


I loved watching her in movies such as BeetleJuice, Heathers, Edward Scissorhands, Mermaids, Reality Bites and Girl Interrupted.

 

She was engaged to Johnny Depp for 3 years and has also dated Matt Damon and other musicians.

Although she took a 5 year hiatus from acting, she is back now and stars in 'Black Swan' with Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis to be released early next year.

All images via weheartit.com

Dream House # 7

It's been awhile since my last dream house post. I've been too busy scouting bathroom tiles and choosing paints for my new house.


This 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 2 car garage apartment is situated in Milson's Point in Sydney. Some of the features include:

• Private lift run from security parking with vast atrium upon entry
• Open plan living and dining, gourmet kitchen with Miele appliances
• Bespoke remote controlled blind system offering complete privacy
• Reflection pool provides tranquil backdrop to master bedroom
• Master ensuite with luxurious freestanding Travertine bath tub
• Three double bedrooms, separate home office and vast library
• Protected panoramic views of the bridge, harbour, Bradfield Park

No price is listed, just make an offer and it could be yours!


Although I'm completely over apartment living in Sydney, I could DEFINATELY live here. Imagine the parties you could have. Annual NYE parties to watch fireworks. Swimming laps every day at North Sydney pool. Walking your kids up to some of the best schools in the State. Life would be grand. Expensive, but grand.