I snorted all over my keyboard

I dare you to look at this pic and not cack yourself laughing. I don’t think laughing at this pic is limited only to the parentals.

Found via Heather’s links page.

Too much beauty

This weekend I’ve been invited to (yet another) Nutrimetics party. For those of you who aren’t already in the vicious cycle of Pyramid Scheme Parties, STAY AWAY AT ALL COSTS.

Yes, the parties can be fun. Yes, you can be introduced to new products and ideas. But you also get caught in the infinite loop where you are going to one of these parties on an almost-weekly basis (if not hosting one yourself).

I think I went to about 6 Nutrimetics parties in the first half of this year, and hosted one myself. These “direct selling” parties aren’t for people who are guillible or easily swayed (ie, me), especially if they’re bugging you to host a party of your own (ie, me). It’s hard enough to not spend 3 pay cycles’-worth on shiny products that you’ll never really use (ie, me), let alone when they try to push you into joining their evil ways (ie, me).

I was a Mary Kay Consultant for 3 months, barely made any sales and disagreed with almost all of their methods (If I want to wear something other than a knee-length skirt, I will, thankyouverymuch). Without saying so, I know my sister is disappointed that I was such a failure, especially now that she is so far up her Mary Kay ladder of achievement. If you’re not a pushy person, then you’re never going to make it in direct sales, no matter how much you try.

The benefit of my short stint as a Mary Kay idiot is that I have a huge amount of beauty products stashed in various cupboards around the house. I’m still trying to use this shit up and it’s been over 2 years since I last bought any Mary Kay products. Admittedly, I often get itchy feet and buy something new and cool from the chemist or supermarket. Then there’s the season of Nutrimetics. Holy crap I have so much stuff waiting to be used up. I should be as smooth as a baby’s arse.

So this weekend the vicious cycle starts again. Technically, I’m free to go, but I’m busying myself with other committments so I can avoid going. I’d spend too much money and the Nutrimetics lady knows that the renovations should be almost done by now, and that was my excuse for avoiding a party of my own.

Besides, it’s not like I need any more shower gel products. This is what I just found in my bathroom cabinet:

Six bottles, and that’s just in storage. There’s another 2 bottles in the shower of the upstairs bathroom and one more next to the bathtub in the new downstairs bathroom. I can imagine me if I went on Saturday:

Geranium-scented? Ooh, I don’t have that one…

The world will be a better place if I just avoid the whole thing completely. And you should, too.

Charlotte and picnics

Charlotte is my beautiful cousin-in-law, ex-housemate, actress, singer, guitarist and free spirit. The world should be full of more people like Charlotte.

Today was a picnic with the in-laws at Lavender Bay. The park is on State Rail property, but is open to everyone. It’s been lovingly restored by Wendy Whitley, who began to garden nine years ago after the death of her husband, Aussie artist Brett Whiteley. It’s a beautiful garden that looks more like a fairy land. Perfect for little girls and big girls alike.

I can’t find anything about this little park anywhere on the internets, but I know there was an article about it written somewhere.

The photo is grainy as all fuck because I forgot the ISO was set to 800. Oops.

Wishes do come true

Today I went to the opening of an exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW, in downtown Sydney.

The exhibition showcased the work of Amelia Matheson, my niece-in-law. She’s 7 years old.

Milly was granted a wish by the Starlight Children’s Foundation, an organisation that grants wishes to seriously ill children. Milly is recovering from a form of neuroblastoma.

Milly wished to have art lessons with “a proper artist” and then have it displayed at the Art Gallery of NSW. Milly had sessions with Janet Laurence and today had her hair done at the hairdresser, wore her brand new pink party dress and was driven by limousine to the opening of the exhibition.

Friends and family piled into the gallery for the opening, treated to fairy bread and mini muffins.

Thankfully, Milly is well on the road to recovery and plans to have her next exhibition in New York.

Today was the the first time I shot in RAW mode. I didn’t realise that Photoshop CS2 now supports our camera. I also used RawShooter Essentials, which made life easier when trying to work out which pics to convert. It’s a bit of a culture shock to go from having space for 900+ jpg images on the 1Gb memory card, down to 70. Bloody worth it, though.

TGIF

Yesterday I finished my year-long HR course, and today I bought some perfume so I can smell like passionfruit still on the vine.

I’m about to leave the house to go out for dinner with my hot boyfriend and celebrate said course finishing with dinner.

I’m wearing as many different colours as possible, and have my hair in pigtails.

Tomorrow I’m going to Howard’s Storage World to spend some money, because I love Howard.