One Sparkly Life

Hi all, It's such a great feeling to know that I have a place to to put my thoughts. Whether anyone reads them, or takes them on board, isn't really the point. It's about a safe place to download and share. The good, the bad, the exciting and the ugly. While those close to me will know that the last 12 months have been tough and the last 6 more so, others will probably not have noticed a change in the business as usual version of me.  (aside from a lack of posting anything). Up until recently, I prided myself on that. On projecting that veneer to the world that everything is ok. But honestly inside I am sad. And it made me realise that we put on this veneer, this mask as if being the real version of ourselves would not be liked and accepted. That people would shun us and think less of us for showing our really feelings and our real lives. In this day of social media and the desire to share the best bits of our lives with everyone (those we know and those we don...

Oh what fun. I had forgotten how much fun it was to flick back through my photos from the month and capture the ones that brought back great memories and points in my month. So here goes with some highlights from November. The month that saw me resign from my job and captures the first 4 weeks of unwinding and finding myself under the stress. A happy end to my final day in the office Brunch with my Mum at our favourite spot in the west   Planting some more tomatoes and basil ready for summer Relaxing in the sun in the backyard   Orange Butterfly Cupcake with Lemon Mascarpone Frosting  Rocking the early morning baseball look A feast fit for two ladies as we devour the new Gilmore Girls Revival Mini Choc Chip Cookies - Yumm I hope your November was as wonderful. Bring on December, the silly season and summer! xxx

Having spent my weekend immersed in Stars Hollow with our favourite mother and daughter duo, I have now rejoined my reality and have had sufficient enough time to digest this next (and possibly last) instalment of my favourite TV family. I, like many others of around a similar age, spent the early 2000s religiously tuning into Gilmore Girls each week to get my fix of the latest caffeinated goings on in Stars Hollow. While Lorelei and Rory were closer in age than my mum and I, we did share a similar synchronicity of our relationships. We too spent plenty of time together shopping and enjoying hanging out. Though it is only now that i have developed a taste for coffee that we too can share this. So it was with excitement that we sat down Friday night to see what the last 9 years had held for our beloved Lorelei and Rory. Would Lorelei and Luke have finally got together? What adventures and accolades would Rory achieve on the Obama campaign trail as she pushed to dizzying ...

And life throws some curveballs and interesting surprises for everyone. No apologies or excuses here, just a tumultuous time recently. Some good, some brilliant and some just down right heartbreaking. After a few false starts (mainly technological - What is going on with the Blogger App??), I felt the urge to write. Not to share anything in particular, but just a need to reacquaint myself with my inner voice and let it run free. So today is just an opening of the heart and mind. A chance to let some of those inner thoughts run free and see what comes out.  It seems that life is always throwing something else at you. Since I last stopped by to share my thoughts ( July last year  can you believe?) the following have happened: I've moved house We began a tough journey (that still isn't complete) I've loved and felt real love I've lost I resigned from my job (recently) I have seen a great friend get married in Italy I have baked (a lot) I have masted the art...

Thought I'd stop in and update you on what's been happening in life. It's all about Baking! And work and family. But Bakind has been keeping me busy.  Here's a few pics of what I have put together for some clients recently.  Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes Blood Orange Syrup Cake Gluten Free Beef and Ale Pies. More to come as I spend another weekend baking.  Xxx

I'm not a writer, but I blog. I'm not an artist, but I create. I'm not a chef, but I bake. I'm not a mother, but I want to be. I'm not a wife, but I am an awesome girlfriend. I'm not an explorer, but I love to travel. I'm not an academic, but I love to learn. I'm not a fashionista, but I love great clothes. I am all of these things and none of them at the same time.  I am more than a label. I have dreams, plans, goals and crazy ideas. I love and am loved. I am the product of my decisions and the blank canvas of my future. I am me and who I choose to be today, tomorrow and next year. I am both complex and simple.  I am on a journey without an end.  I have been inspired and tortured recently  by the concept of who and what am I. I am many different things to many different people. But who am I to me? Who do I want to be? What do I stand for and against? Too big to answer today but I wanted to share.  Who are you? Who do you choose to be today? Xxx

Another beautiful autumn sunrise this morning. Every day I see these balloons, I remind myself that one day I want to take a trip and see the city from the quiet spot in a balloon. One day.... Sunrise from my balcony And on another sunny note - drum roll please............. I have a new job!! Yippee. A wonderful moment happened on my birthday Friday where I got a call to say all the hard work and effort I put in applying and interviewing have paid off. Woo Hoo. So it was double celebration with toasts for me and my new role. More details on that to come as I draw closer to my start date. Needless to say a weight has been lifted and I feel that I am moving forward rather than treading water. A feel some baking coming on to celebrate. Hope you are having a wonderful morning. xxx

Having made some personal revelations and making a commitment to myself I realised that I have been find inspiration from movies and TV Shows for awhile. It was only today as I reflected on my recent thoughts and journey that my TV and Movie viewing has been telling me something even when I wasn't really aware of it myself. My favourite DVD's that I have been watching lately When I looked deeper into he plots and characters I realised a few things. The Good Wife - Strong lead female character Alicia who develops from the tragedy that was her marriage plastered across the front pages to a powerhouse of her own choosing No Reservations - About cooking and following your passions and opening your heart Burlesque - Escaping your past and following your dreams. Getting back up when it gets tough and believing in yourself. Julie & Julia - Following your passion for cooking and blogging. Having dreams and doing what you can to achieve them, no matter how lo...

As I noticed last week, the last few months of craziness in trying to get another full time job have taken a toll on me and it is to baking and cooking that I have turned. See what you think of the last two months as I share some of the photos. Man and his fire Clouds from the balcony My mum's version of hedgehog - Plonky Square Pork and Apple Sausage Rolls Lemon Cupcakes with Mascarpone Icing My first attempt at honeycomb Lake Eildon My new favourites - Brownie Cookies with Peanut Butter Icing Balloon flights at sunrise from my balcony Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes - Heaven Balloon over the Yarra River at sunrise Beef pie with parmesan crust Roses at St Patrick's Cathederal My first batch of Hot Cross Buns White Chocolate and Macadamia Cookies Here's to another month of baking and cooking. xxx

It seems that every time I sit down to write an update or post that so much time has past since the last one. How does that happen?? At least I am consistently inconsistent. :) February and March both flew by with me taking on some temporary work alongside looking for a new role. This has seen me work a full week plus find time to write applications and attend many interviews. While friends say I should be positive about the fact that I am getting lots of interviews and many 2nd interviews, I have to admit to it being rather draining to be switched on so often. The constant selling of my skills and trying to read between the lines and figure out what the recruiter/HR team are really looking for is taking its toll on me. Why do people ask such inane questions and how do these really showcase whether I can do the job or not? It's also rather demoralising to come 2nd so many times. I have lost count in the last 8 weeks how many roles I have applied for and how many I have been...

Sunrise over the city.