definatalie.com » birthday

31 today!

Natalie — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:16:51 +0000

Today is my for-realsies birthday! Getting older is such an odd thing, I said that I still feel like an awkward 16 year old and my mother-in-law replied that she feels the same way too. It seems that many people feel scared and uncomfortable about getting older and treat birthdays with apprehension but I’ve never felt that way.

When I was younger I couldn’t wait to be in my thirties. I guess I figured that I’d have everything sorted out and would be able to live my life the way I wanted to. Now I’m here in my thirties and I’m optimistic. I’ve been through lots of struggles, and I’m sure I’ll encounter more, but I’m happy to have made it this far and I look forward to my life (most days) as an adult type person who is able to do exactly what she wants to do (again, most days… circumstances permitting!)

In the next year I look forward to slowly but consistently expanding my Fancy Lady Industries shop, working towards a life where I can be my own boss and earn a solid living wage while being true to my politics and passions; I hope to learn more every day about life, about me and you, about how to treat us tenderly and respectfully. My biggest goal is not to be afraid or ashamed of these things, because so often in the past I’ve felt like a weirdo for not wanting a big house or a stock portfolio or pursuing material or financial things. I just want to be me, to make things, and to think, love and be content.

Just for fun, here are some photos of me as a baby, and me as a newly minted 31 year old!

A photo of my mother and father holding me as a newborn in hospital, and a clipping of my birth notice from the newspaper.

My mother holding a 1 year old me up to blow out my birthday candle. I look rather disgruntled with the paltry offering of only one birthday cake.

Me as a blue haired 31 year old trying to copy the disgruntled face I made on my first birthday.

My grandmother and I smiling at lunch today. (We share the same birthday.)

Pre-birthday unbirthday.

Natalie — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:24:01 +0000

The spokes inside the Wheel of Brisbane against the twilight sky.

[Warning: this post contains an animated gif.]

The Wheel of Brisbane is pretty much a huge laughing stock situated at South Bank, a somewhat scaled down version of the London Eye. Normally it costs a ridiculous amount just for the pleasure of seeing exactly what you might if you were on a balcony somewhere on the banks of the Brisbane River, but Nick got a special coupon deal and we got to ride the wheel for a considerable discount on Saturday night to “celebrate” my birthday (which is actually on Tuesday). The wheel is actually kind of terrifying on the first orbit, I let out a shriek when I realised I was dangling in the air!

Sonya, myself and Zoe walking away from the camera to find a prime ootd position in front of the North Quay vistas.

Me awkwardly walking away from the fanced up Sonya and Zoe.

I thought I’d just approach my 31st birthday in a super casual manner, and that was conveniently assisted by my being pretty unwell for the past week. Gratefully I have friends who are not only ready for whatever mild mannered adventure is proposed, but also get fanced up for the occasion too! I wish I’d felt more in the mood for fance, but ehh what can you do? Sonya and Zoe ably carried the banner for the team!

Sonya wearing an animal print caftan with a black belt and black sandals.

Zoe wearing a cherry print dress and rocking an amazing lilac bouffant.

Zoe spinning around in her cherry dress as the full skirt flies around her.

Nick wearing a green polo shirt with navy slacks and tan slip on sneakers.

Me wearing a lace dress over a black slip with dark blue jeggings and carrying my new green satchel.

Remember all that hemming and hawing over satchels? I decided I couldn’t afford to buy a Cambridge satchel any time soon, even if I really really wanted to and even just to spite a particularly nasty bit of hate mail, so I found a cheap green and blue satchel on ebay. It does the job! (PS xoxo lover anons!) I’ve also been stripping my hair of the red I so errantly dumped on my head, forgive the gingerness at this point in time.

An animated gif of Sonya, her caftan moving slightly in the wind.

I couldn’t resist making a gif out of this!

Me closing my eyes and cheesing for the camera, the city behind me looking rather golden.

After the wheel we met up with a couple more friends and had burgers and wine; I almost wish I’d thought to take more photos but we were too busy talking and eating and drinking, which I think is entirely valid!

My outfit details:
Lace dress: Asos Curve
Slip: from an Evans dress
Jeggings: Best & Less
Shoes: Shoebuy
Bag: Shanghai Magicbox on ebay

Brownies, belated birthdays, badasses and bikes.

Natalie — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 02:46:36 +0000

I’ve raved about Dello Mano brownies before and yesterday was cause to reiterate my love for this small handmade brownie shop in Breakfast Creek. This weekend is our last in Brisbane so we caught up with friends for coffee and treats courtesy of Dello Mano’s super lovely owner Deb. I finally got the opportunity to give Zoe her much belated birthday gift too!

This post will pretty much just be photos because I’m in the middle of packing chaos, I hope you don’t mind.

A black and white photo of Zoe opening a present.

A black and white photo of a paisley Gocco printed card that I made.

A black and white photo of Zoe holding up a framed drawing I made for her.

A black ink drawing of a border of flowers, paisley, waffles and tea surrounding text on a blue background that says "Stay calm and have tea and waffles."

A black and white photo of Sonya holding up my paisley card to her wrist.

A photo of two gold wrapped brownies and some shortbread biscuits on a white plate with fingers dangling ready to snatch all the yummy things up.

An outfit photo of Sonya standing in front of the boot of a white Porche. She wears a black tshirt with animal print harem pants, black shoes and big bangles.

An outfit photo of Zoe standing in front of the Porche, wearing a black tshirt, purple cardigan with floral print wide leg pants and red shoes. She's posing with spirit fingers raised in the air!

A black and white photo of Sonya, Mel, me and Zoe looking generally badass.

A photo of Sonya posing with her hands on her waist like a super model with Zoe in the background.

An outfit photo of me posing with the Porche wearing a cropped pleather jacket, a blue/black/grey diagonally paneled tunic, straight leg jeans and black flats.

Cleaning out your wardrobe has benefits! I found the pleather City Chic jacket given to me when Hayley gave me a CC makeover. It was a pretty awesome choice for the day because later in the morning I went to Zoe’s and adopted her bike!

An Instagram photo of me sitting on my new (to me) bike in Zoe's living room.

BIKER GANG BABE! I’m terribly excited to go on a ride, but need to get this packing out of the way first and then find a bike pump to pump up the tyres!

My outfit details:
Jacket: City Chic
Top: Big W (?)
Jeans: New Look
Shoes: Evans
Necklaces: ebay and made by me ;)

We move on Wednesday and I’m nowhere near ready. EEP!

For Dad, Boonge or Atticus

Natalie — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:05:52 +0000

Today is my Dad’s birthday! I’m not sure I’ve posted photos from when I was a little girl, but today is probably the best day to do this because my Dad’s moustache was hilarious and there’s no better day to make fun of your father than his birthday!

The day I was born. Look at that mo!

Dawwww. And taken with a proper Polaroid camera, none of this Poladroid business!

A photo from more recent years to show his fashion sense (and facial hair) situation has improved! That’s my Mum behind him, I guess I get a lot of my ~~unique~~ personality from them. :P

Happy birthday Boonge!

My birthday weekend

Natalie — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:56:31 +0000

I need a weekend to recover from the weekend! What a fantastic birthday! I turned 29 with my mates and my family and had bogloads of fun. On Saturday Nick and I went down the coast to a family Christmas dinner, then zoomed back to Brisbane to hang out with friends and sing karaoke in our own private room. We sung, and shouted and laughed so hard that my voice was completely ruined the morning after – but it was so worth it! Then we went to my parents’ for a whole bunch of awesome food that my Mum spent all day making including a fantastic cake made with my favourite fruit.

Holding my cousin’s gorgeous baby girl.

My fancy birthday outfit.

Dress: Yours Clothing
Tights: Kmart
Shoes: Softspots
Necklace: Lola and Bailey

My friends Viv and Mem singing Queen!

My wonderful husband got me Flora by Gucci and a (My Little) Pony! YAY!

Fantastic views of Brisbane’s skyscraper forest from our room at M on Mary.

Super casual in the humidity, going over to my parents’ for birthday dinner.

Blouse: Kmart
Skirt: City Chic
Bow: Gift from Sonya
Thongs: No idea
Sunglasses: Giant Vintage

My Nana gave me this ring and it totally matched my nail polish.

An incredible mangomisu cake Mum made for me – it was delicious.

The lovely Nick who made my birthday so excellent!

Phew. Let’s do it again in say, a year?!

Birthday wants!

Natalie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:24:49 +0000

My birthday is five days out from Giftmas (December 20) and (get out your little violins) my celebrations are usually overlooked because people have engagements and stuff to buy. So it usually ends up with me having a pity party and eating worms. Allow me this one indulgence: to compile a list of the awesome things I’d love to receive for my birthday!

⇒ “The Galileoscope™ is a high-quality, low-cost telescope kit developed for the International Year of Astronomy 2009″ – alls I know is that I’ve always wanted a telescope, and this one costs USD$20! Bargain! Science! The Cosmos! All of these things could be mine!

⇒ A few years ago I used to wear Gucci Rush everywhere, but switched scents because it reminded me too much of a particular period of my life. An assistant at Myer showed me Flora and I was in love! It’s soft, sweet and summery and suitable for every day wear.

⇒ I would dearly dearly love a pair of scalloped pinking shears. These ones are from Japan Woodworker and they are quite spendy but would last a lifetime!

⇒ Look, I have to be honest. I didn’t pay much attention to the make or model when I chose this – I just want a DSLR. I’m not interested in the Canon vs Nikon thing either! I just want a DSLR so I can take lovely photos :D

⇒ Now I have a beautiful cedar display cabinet, I can start my tea cup collection in earnest! (With your kind tea cup gifts!) This photo is by nhearon2003, by the way.

⇒ There are SO many books I want. It’s ridiculous. My Amazon wishlist is here!

⇒ I’ve heard friends rave about these brush pens and I’m so keen on trying them myself! This is an Akashiya natural bamboo brush pen with silk case from Jet Pens.

⇒ Lomography is still pretty trendy, and I want in! This Diana+ film camera might be the end of Proper Photography For Serious Photographers or the beginning of Fun for Natalie, Eff the Haters :P

⇒ I’m a fan of tools, they help me make things! I have had a niggling desire to get into pyrography, or woodburning, for a few months now and a Dremel 2000 VersaTip would allow me to burn my doodlings into wood perfectly.

So let’s forget modesty or entitlement shame – what do you really want right now?

Happy birthday November babies

Natalie — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:04:15 +0000

Today is my husband’s 30th birthday – he storms into his third decade on earth with panache!

My sister celebrated her birthday on November 3, or Melbourne Cup day. She was rather sozzled :P