She Own's It.....

Personal Style

I simply love when I stumble upon people I know that have a presence in an industry that makes for change. I know this wonderful lady through my business (Dural Antiques), she is an amazing woman in so many ways but here today, I see her through such different eyes. I always knew she radiated her own style but these simply amazing images of her show me another side of the woman I know as Sarah Jane Adams.

Image: Advanced Style

You rock this world in so many ways… I love your energy, buzz, generosity and above all, you own who you are and I strive to lead in your footsteps and stay true to who I want to be.

Image: Advanced Style

I ultimately love that fashion provides us with another tier to how we are seen by others and how we want to feel when we step out for the day… There is a blog called Advanced Style that focuses on the woman of a more mature age who dispel the conventional ideas about aging, beauty and that with age comes grace, confidence and flair. 

Image: Advanced Style

Ladies, when you have a few moments, take a stroll through the world of woman who own their identities through fashion, beauty and the benefits of age…..

Image: Advanced Style

Follow Sarah Jane via Saramaijewels on Instgram

Enjoy Life.....

The Twin Thing.....

So I’m a twin and I thought it would be interesting to look at Celebrity twins.. There were quite a few that I had no idea that they were a twin…

Just a little bit about me and my beautiful twin;

• ·         We are fraternal twins (2 eggs)
• ·         I am a red head, she is a blonde
• ·         I am taller
• ·         We were born one minute apart
• ·         We often buy the same thing without the other knowing…

Gisele Bundchen

Image: Pixnpix

Gisele has a fraternal twin sister named Patricia. Patricia is Gisele’s public relations manager

Ashton Kutcher

Image: Novafm

Ashton has a fraternal twin brother named Michael. Michael also has cerebral palsy and is a spokesperson for the advocacy organization Reaching for the Stars.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett has a twin brother named Hunter. Hunter is also an actor.

Alanis Morissette

Alanis has a twin brother named Wade. Wade is also a musician and yoga teacher.

Elvis Presley

Image: Huffpost

 Elvis had an identical brother named Jesse, unfortunately he was stillborn.

Jerry Hall

Image: Matilo

 Terry Hall has a fraternal twin sister called Terry.

And Finally...

A very pregnant me with my beautiful twin sister – Amanda. My life would not be the same without her xox

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It's My Birthday Month.....

The number this year is 39... Yep - I'm one year off being 40 and although you shouldn't waste anytime wishing your years away, it got me thinking???

 I wished I'd meet Mr Right in my early twenties

 I wished I started having children before the age of the 36

 And I mostly wished

 I'd felt comfortable in my skin a decade ago.....

But.... Then I could ask the questions;

Would Mr Right and I still be together if we'd meet in our 20's?

Would I have had the time and raised my little girl the same way if I'd started having children earlier?

Would I have treated my body any different if I was comfortable in it a decade ago?

Life - is just that - Life!!!!! The ability to grow and change, experience Life - Alive and with good health...

So - maybe I should just feel grateful for all that I have and not ponder and worry about things I cannot change...

Enjoy Life……

Getting My Craft On

Image: Pinterest

I saw this beautiful Heart Blanket on Pinterest the other night, which got me thinking!!!

Maybe I should get my Craft On??? I’ve never crocheted in my life but my mother is all things knitting and I figured she’d have the tools to get me started. I was So right – I am now in the possession of crochet needles and wool. I haven’t a clue where to start but I’m going to give it a whirl.

My mother was happy to point out that this blanket would be an advanced pattern, but I need to dream big, otherwise - what’s the point…

Ok – I really need to learn quite a lot, this basic crochet stitch is hard work.

I will keep you posted, but in the meantime, check out what I am eyeing off for future projects.

 

Image: Etsy

Image: Tangled Yarn

Image: Etsy

Ok – back to learning how to crochet…..

Reminiscing

Italy 2007 – My first time to Europe and we meet some fun, interesting people.. This street performer, was cheeky in every sense of the word. He asked for a picture and then proceeded to follow me through the Piazza we were strolling through…

Enjoy Life…

Reminiscing

Location, Location, Location………Champagne, sunshine and a spectacular view. This country has the best relaxing locations on offer. Oh – to be back there sipping on bubbly.

Shadow Land

I took my gorgeous mother to see the opening night of Shadow Land in Sydney. I think I read somewhere the verse “To dance and dream in shadow” and that is truly what they did.  Imagery through body sculpting just took us away on their journey. We were captivated from the first scene, it was mellifluous to the eye and we were taken in and stay on their journey right to the final bow.

Image: From the production

The story is of a young girl who is coming of age. She has the challenges of not being understood by her parents and feeling torn. At night as she falls asleep, she dreams the most unusual of dreams, encountering bizarre circumstances along the way, she is even turned into a creature, half girl-half dog. Although, it would appear to be an unexpected story line, the production was breathe taking to watch. 

What I really loved was their tribute at the end to Australia. It showed a great deal of gratitude toward those who came to enjoy their production. They played to the song “Downunder”, producing the Opera House, Bondi Beach and the outback. They even moulded their bodies to make the word Sydney. Fan-bloody-tastic.

It is well worth the viewing.

Enjoy Life....

Reminiscing

Six wonderful years of marriage this coming Saturday. We married on the day of the winter solstice , the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It was a very chilly 9 degrees (48.2 F) as I walked down the aisle to my true love.

As we head close to knowing each other for 14 years (8 of those together), life together is just getting better and better. We have such an amazing bond, a bond I know like know other.. My Sweet Boy may be quiet in nature but he is the most considered man I have ever meet, he is gentle, respectful and when he smiles my heart lights up. I have always loved his smile and it still melts me after 8 years together..

Thanks for being the other half of us, we truly make a great team and I couldn’t imagine our life any other way.

Oh – Sweet Boy might add that he has never consumed so much chocolate in his life but for the past 8 years. I’m addicted to life’s sweet treasures.

xox

Country Crazy

Image: BPM Music

To say I love Country music is a vast understatement. I’m not the crazy type that buys all the merchandise or travels around following their every show and I definitely don’t have posters… But!! I just LOVE the sound of country music. Not the country western kind that I grew up listening to, although I do like a bit of Dolly and Cash but the pop country of today.

Sweet Boy and I are off to see Keith Urban this weekend, his concerts are inspiring to me. I love the rawness of his performance and the story telling of his songs. Oh – and he’s an aussie which is great too..

Image: 96.7 Coyote

So – where did my love of country music develop from? My Father. He would play the likes of Anne Murray or Kenny Rogers on long car trips and it just stuck. I’m at my happiest when I’m listening to country music, house work gets down quicker, I cook more when I’m listening to country music and trips in the car don’t seem to be as long when the radio is belting out a country ballad.

I think it was Reba McIntyre and Clint Black that I first started listening to as a teenager, but over time I’ve come to love all styles of country. My first country concert was back in 1998, it was Reba and Kenny playing in Sydney and I was over myself excited, I think I was the youngest their at 23 but I didn’t care, I belted out every song, off key, much to the surprise of the oldies around me. Kenny even threw me a signed tambourine, I still have it today.. I was 2 rows from the front, maybe he heard me singing and thought a gift may keep me quiet. 

Image: Pintrest

I think the song that I was belting out was – Scarlet Fever…..

      

It’s fantastic that with technology I can be listening to any radio station in the world - amazing. I’d say that it’s got me listening to more country then I have ever before and it’s introduced me to more artist that I don’t think I would have ever heard of had I not been able to listen to Nashville radio stations. I stream through Tune-in online.

Enjoy Life, feelin’ a little country…….

Reminiscing

So – it’s my anniversary coming up in a couple of weeks and it has got me thinking about our wonderful honeymoon. Every morning at breakfast we were greeted with this divine fruit platter each and freshly squeezed orange juice. Oh – to be back there now….
We stayed a one of the most Luxurious resorts in Australia – Qualia… We had 8 beautiful, sundrenched days and 9 evenings where we were spoilt with a 7 course degustation with wines to match. Wake up Paula, Stop dreaming – that was a once in a lifetime holiday….

Qualia - Simply Stunning. Check it out!

Enjoy Life…

I have a confession.... I'm in love with another man.

I only know of him as Will and of his true love as Annie and well, I fell in love on a rainy Sunday afternoon in my shop. You see - a young lady came in wanting to sell a whole lot of old postcards among other things that she had inherited from her family that belonged to her great great grandfather. She had no interest in keeping them. This was always the challenge I faced. I love the history of the old and part of my business is to sell rare and beautiful finds but the other part of me wants to convince them to keep their heirlooms.. But - with most things, money is the root of all evil and they want what they think it is worth. Anyway - enough about business.

As I sifted through the postcards and there was well over 50, I started to see a pattern, it was the correspondents between two sweethearts during the war. As my eyes started to well with tears, I asked again if she was sure she didn't want just a few. Not one was kept. As the day was coming to an end, I sat down in my office and arranged them in order as best I could. It looks to have started in 1916 (WW1) and the last stamp that I can make out is in 1943 (WWII)... 

We start with them courting through to marriage. How could I separate these postcards? I couldn't, and now they live in my drawer beside my bed. I often pull them out and read through them, it's a great leveller to my problems, I haven't gone to war, I haven't been separated from my love ones for months on end. And I haven't had to see things in my lifetime that will chill me to my core. I am blessed and these postcards sometime remind me.

Will traveled through Egypt, England, Langland Bay, Palestine, Paris, to name just a few.

And Yes - I love this man, for all that he represents. I wished I could give him a hug. I loved that he showed his heart in these cards to his Dear Annie.

 They often started with " To Darling Annie" or "Dearest Annie" and ended with "From Yours Will" or "Love Will" made out in X's to symbolises his love.

I will leave you with a passage on one of his Postcard;

"I send you love, my own dear wife,

From the longing of my heart,

You're dearer now to me,

Though we're so far apart:

I think about you day by day,

At night I dream of you,

Though war may take me far away,

You'll know I'll come back true.."

Bless this man and his dear Annie.

Oh My Gosh....

So, this afternoon I was blog surfing and stumbled across this great aussie blog called “Hello May” and as I was scrolling through my heart skipped a beat, there staring straight back at me were Luke & Jen, a truly beautiful couple who purchased their engagement ring (antique of course) and both their wedding bands from me last year at Dural Antiques

I can’t tell you how excited I am to see the final chapter of their union in the form of their wedding day. I was lucky enough to know about their relationship from my conversations with Luke and Jen, but it was how Luke was going to propose and that Jen didn’t know he was going to give her ‘The Ring’ she really wanted, that made me love this couple. A timeless Antique Diamond Solitaire that matched her in every way…

I wished I could reach through my monitor and tell them how incredibly beautiful they looked. Jen showed me pictures of her gown and her trial headpiece but there are just no other words to match this couple other than soulful and connected.

I wished there was a picture of their rings to complete the story.

True Love….

To read their love story. Click here (Hello May)
Visit Dural Antiques

Reminiscing

Pure Sunshine… Little Miss Liv on her first birthday. Oh – where does the time go?? She is all we need, she warms our hearts and puts a smile on our faces. Thank you my little Darlin’

Gotta Love The Baseballs..

I have some really beautiful clients that mean more to me than the word “client”, they have become like friends. I was lent this cd to play in my store, you see being an antique store I play classic music from the 20’s, 30’s & 40’s.. I sprinkle a bit of Bublé, Harry Connick jr and a few jazz singers but mostly stay true to what my business feel is.

That was until the boys gave me Strike – by the Baseballs. Have you heard of them? I hadn’t but I just love their sound. Who are they you ask? They are a group of guys from Germany that are known for their twist on modern day songs transformed into rock n roll style covers. Let’s just say Rhianna’s “Umbrella” done by these guys is amazing.. Not to mention “Love in the club”, “Bleeding Love”… They have been around since 2007

Check out their sound and you decide….

 

I’m off to order “Good Ol' Christmas & Strings 'n' Stripes Live”. . All I need is a lazy Sunday afternoon, good wine and great company, we can chill to the sounds of these boys..

Enjoy Life….

Reminiscing

Nearly six years ago my darling husband said “I do”…  I still look down and smile at my rings that symbolise so much to me – PURE LOVE.