Giddy On The High: Etsy Success

Well that was the weekend that was folks. I'd been looking forward to Etsy Success for many weeks, and now #BOOM it's over.

I had such a blast meeting so many creative people, 300 of them, all buzzing in the one room. It was electric. It was such a coup to be part of it - one which I am grateful for. I got to meet so many excellent people - and on the flip side, endured the hangover from hell.

Someone really should have stopped me.

Hangovers are not my friend (are they anyone's?), and given I am a lightweight in the booze department, I feel they are totally unwarranted. I barely have a slurp of champagne before I've got to start tossing back the Nurofen.

But back to Etsy Success. The success of Etsy Success is really down to the people. I've said it before - Etsy has enabled so many creatives to come together and create a global community and business, that they would otherwise not have. Sure you can have a blog, and create community from that, or a Facebook page, but Etsy truly is the meeting place, the marketplace for creative geniuses to come together and share. And sell.

As a buyer, Etsy is like falling down Alice's rabbit hole. I can click through for hours finding more and more gold, right from the comfort of my couch.

In the coming week I'll be posting some more info on DIY PR. I promise I won't mention the goldfish again.

Vivid Festival:: ETSY Success

This weekend I am lucky enough to be involved in ETSY Success – part of the Vivid Festival. I’m talking DIY PR – a really, really practical guide to getting yourself out there. Because let’s face it, promoting yourself can be awkward.

Together with a host of ace speakers, such as Wee Birdy, the editor of Frankie Magazine – Jo Walker, and the CEO of ETSY, Chad Dickerson, it’s going to be a jam-packed day full of tips, tricks and case studies to help build creative businesses.
I am a long-time ETSY fan, and am really looking forward to this event both personally and professionally, as well as meeting some of the cleverest minds in the biz.
You can still buy tickets for the day here – and let’s face it – a day spent in the salubrious setting of the new MCA building, overlooking Sydney Harbour? Super fantastic. Plus there’s bound to be some top learnings from the day.
You can see how the day looks here.
If you can’t make it – the event will be filmed (eek!). You can read more over here.


image via the Etsy blog

How Great Is This? LEGO In Real Life

Did anyone get to see the LEGO in real life in Martin Place last week? How great does it look? I'd love it if it stayed there all the time. It's such a fun pop of colour in the bleak city-scape. And how great walking past that every day to work. 


Come on Clover. Do it! 


For more LEGO activity to celebrate 50 years in Australia, check out Festival of Play. 

It's Showtime, Baby

We went to the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Saturday - as guests of the new Samsung Galaxy Note. 


During the day we visited almost every animal known to man, including this heck of a cute goat, who we creatively named Billy the Kid - he slayed me. I wanted to keep that little kid. Tiny cried over Billy the Kid. The Doctor adored Billy the Kid. And Matt stood there like the Tin Man. He did not find his heart. Until I forced a cup of baby goat food into his hand and I damn well made him feed the baby animals. 


Finally we had to wean Billy the Kid from our tender-loving-care, and walked on to see ducks tumbling into ponds, chickens hatching, sheep headbutting other sheep, alpacas being judged, a cow doing a wee, and other amazing sights. 


We watched skaters shredding the rad at the Monster park. We had our portraits done at the Samsung stand (more on that laterz) - where I learnt I have a massive nose and huge, superhero like chin. Fist pump! The Doctor had a parrot on his head. We watched the pooches getting preened. 


And then I won worst mother of the year when I declared we were not, under any circumstances going to be getting showbags. Harsh, I know. Well the Doctor was so dirty at me, when we asked if he had had a good day he replied: "Not really," and then slunk off like an emo six year old. He didn't talk to me the whole drive home. 

The Very Serious Work of Clown Doctors

On Sunday we spent the most spectacular Autumn day at Luna Park. We were thrilled to be guests invited to celebrate Smile Day, which is the Clown Doctors national fundraising day. 


The Commonwealth Bank Staff Community Fund is a founding partner of the Clown Doctors, which was founded in 1999. They invited families to join forces for a really special day, and to help raise money for such a brilliant cause.

In case you didn't know - Clown Doctors play a significant role in children's hospitals around the country bringing laughter and joy to sick and injured children by parodying the hospital routine, while simultaneously offering respite for families and playing an integral part in the healing process.

And seeing them interacting with the kids on Sunday, and imagining the joy they must bring sick and scared kids in hospital - it made me more than a bit teary. They have a gift making kids giddy with laughter - and the health benefits that come from humour? Incredible! 

You can find out about sponsoring a Clown Doctor here. 

Or learn more about fun-raising here. 

And it's not just kids that are getting all the giggles. Now Clown Doctors are working with elderly people, bringing laughter and improving quality of life to those living with dementia or depression in aged care. That's pretty darn awesome I say. 

They touch the lives of a massive 100,000 people per year. They are in all major children's hospitals in Australia - and aim to have Clown Doctors doing the rounds seven days a week. 

Pretty darn inspiring. As a mum, I find it pretty heartening to see these amazing people investing themselves in lifting the spirits of others - and truly love their work (now how often do you honestly get to say that to someone?). 

Some Snaps: Some Week

I have had a crazy busy week and feel as though I have whiplash as a result.

Early to work, late home. Oh man - I have never felt so blitzed. Well I have. But not for a long time. Totally spent. I have barely seen the smalls and Matt his week - and that my friends takes the wind out of my sails.

Date night was Monday night and it was one of our best ever. Without doubt, date night was the highlight of my week.
Matt and I even held hands. ZOMG! WTF!

Outrageous I know. A PDA on date night. Well, around these parts it's mandatory.

The Darling Bird

Check out my new mani ladiez!

It's called 'The Bird' for reasons only known to me. And you, if you like to occasionally flip the bird too. Like it?

I truly love playing with beauty products. The ability - and the accessibility to change how I look - I create different personas witheven  just a slick of lip colour, or a different eyeshadow. It's fun and playful and I like it.

One of my totes favourite, bestest ever beauty quick fixes is nail varnish. I can change it as often as I wish and be a new person with shiny nails with colour dripping from them - et voila.

Last night I concocted 'The Bird' - my very own manicure. I created it with two colours from the brand new Darling (Showpony - which is the best pink ever, and Trophy Wife - a Limited Edition metallic glitter like none you've ever tried).

Created by two Sydney gals, Darling applies beautifully -  even with just one coat. Can I get a bit nail-nerdy on you and tell you that the coverage is sublime - I didn't use a base coat and it applied smoothly, and chip-free.

Besides a range of rad colours - the Darling nail lacquers are 3-free - NO toulene, formaldehyde, DBP or camphor and they're animal testing and cruelty free. I am so loving all of this after searching for a quality nail varnish that comes in hot colours.

This is it baby. Darling.

Out and About

Did you know that one of my very favourite times of year is January? Not only is it a bright and breezy time of year, it also happens to be the month that hosts the Sydney Festival. I love the Sydney Festival. There's so much goodness happening all around this city - and it's for this fact that I love this city. For the Sydney Festival and nothing else.

Last week we took the smalls to see Holly Throsby perform her kids album 'See' at the Spiegeltent. It was so ace, and we had such a brilliant day out. I took the day off. We watched Throsby perform, then had a relaxed lunch at Bill & Tony's, then had gelato and a walk near the harbour. SO, so good for the soul.

This week we're going to see Beth Orton. I haven't seen her perform since our courtship days.

Are you checking out anything at the festival?

A Really Great Day:: The Day Before The Night Before Christmas

Today was a cracker.

It was my first day of holidays.

We got up early, the Doctor had a haircut, we caught a ferry to Circular Quay. Then we four split up - the Doctor went with Matt to Art of the Brick, and Tiny and I headed over to Sydney Opera House for everyone's favourite dancing mouse, Angelina Ballerina.

Cracker.

Then Tiny and caught the ferry back, she had a hair cut, and we hung out together waiting for the boys to meet up with us.

I had such a blast hanging with my little-big girl, being on the ferry, chatting, so good for the soul. For both of us.

And the Doctor came back, giddy with excitement, having spent quality time with Matt, and doing something together that he really loves. LEGO.

If you have a LEGO fanatic in the house, this show is highly recommended by the Doctor. I booked tickets a couple of weeks ago, and made sure I booked the Stay & Play at the end. I figured the inspiration from the show might as well get a workout straight away!

Of course Angelina Ballerina didn't disappoint either. What a beautiful and enchanting show. Pity they sold those glowing, flashing wand-sword-things that flash in your peripherals and distract from the dancing. But besides that, really beautiful - Tiny told me it was her "BEST EVER".

30 Sleeps:: Christmas Countdown

Back when I was a little girl, when we were visiting Sydney from the country, we always, always visited the Queen Victoria Building. It is one of those places that always left me in awe. All the people buzzing through, the many shops to peruse, the architecture - a real slice of Sydney history, the stained glass windows, the tiled floors, and that clock. I always lingered for that clock at midday. It is such a great memory, and even now, as an adult, I love hearing that clock, and I always race up the top of the QVB to see it swing into action.

But duty called this week, and Tiny and I raced up the top of the QVB for a different reason altogether. Santa.

Actually: Santa, reindeer, and two huskies. Hell-o QVB.

But firstly, let me start at the ground floor, where you'll see the base of the 24 metre Swarovski Christmas tree, the largest Christmas tree in the Southern Hemisphere, it's pretty darn beautiful and pretty darn sparkly. If you know me well, you know I love sparkles. Unfortunately, the tree is not for sale. So we left it there and caught the escalator up to the second floor.

It was there at the Swarovski strewn Crystal Garden we were greeted by a real live Nutcracker. I love the traditional Nutcrackers. And well, all of this love - this excursion was pretty much a match made in heaven. Tiny got to see a fairy, feed some reindeer, pat two huskies, and sit on my lap while I sat and chatted with Santa. Because she got so shy. Fair enough I say old chap! So I got to have my photo with Santa too.

This is the first time Santa has ever appeared at the QVB and it's a pretty dreamy experience. If you're looking for something to get your smalls in the spirit of Christmas, definitely check it out. I'm all a-buzz still, and have promised to take the Doctor much to his delight. You can check out days and times here.

I Love Lace

Can you spot the smalls in this picture?

Dress by Toni Maticevski - phwoar!

On Sunday we went to the Powerhouse Museum to check out the Love Lace exhibition.

Swooning people. Swooning. This is such a beautiful, decadent exhibition. A collection of 130 lace works by 134 artists from 20 countries.

If I could have meandered a little longer, I would have. But the smalls called forth, so we played in the kids sections. Talked with the robot. Interacted with lots of exhibits.

I totes recommend this show - with or without smalls, Love Lace is a beautiful exhibition.

We haven't been to the Powerhouse for yonks, so it was a pleasant treat to check it out, all together.

Together. In the Sunshine

Sundays are my favourite days of the whole week. It's the one day of the week when the four of us spend the whole day together. It's bliss.

It doesn't matter what we do, and rarely do we do anything fancypants, but we always just enjoy that time together. We might be schlepping around at home, doing the grocery shopping, or like this weekend, checking out the Archibald/Wynne/Sulman with hoardes of other people, then hanging about like sunflies in the sunshine at the Botanic Gardens.

Bliss I tell you!

So there we were. The four of us. In the sunshine. At the AGNSW, then hanging out at the Botanic Gardens - I do now declare, my favourite part of Sydney. The smalls spotted a dirty eel. And then another. And the eels seriously swim over to you. Gross man.

That top photo slays me. I have a cute attack every time I see it. My smalls checking out that filthy eel. So cute it brings a wee tear to my eye.

Details

Stepping out in Surry Hills I spied these beauties. Ornately decorated tiles, juxtaposed with the strong checkerboard. I love that stylie. They don't make 'em like that anymore.. Or do they?