Bedazzling down under

 image care of http://www.reviveme.com.au/vajazzling/

There’s been a recent wave of blog posts dedicated to the new black of vagina grooming (here and here and this one is hilarious).  That is: Vajazzling.  Otherwise known as bedazzling your private bits, as brought to the wider global audience thanks to Jennifer Love Hewitt.   So I thought I would join the bandwagon.

I initially posted a little status update and link on my FB page earlier this week, I won't link that here as it's a little inappropriate and might attract the wrong kind of audience.  Needless to say there was a huge response in the comments section.  The whole idea really captured the collective imagination.

My errant husband returns from an epic 6 week trip abroad tomorrow.  He hasn’t seen a vajajay in a while.  I am not sure he could care less about the vajazzle, and quite frankly I doubt he’d even notice in the initial frenzy that possesses a deprived man.  That’s not to say I didn’t prepare myself to a suitably presentable standard.  It’s the least I could do.

But when a friend mentioned he’d been ‘Pejazzling’ for some time now I began to question just how far I’d slipped off the fashion radar.  I spotted my daughters jar of craft jewels and a stick of UHU and considered the possibilities. 

In searching around on google, it's amazing what you can discover.  And although I took the 'pejazzle' comment with a grain of salt, I did actually come across a rather disturbing image and the insightful information that it's set to be the European summer's biggest trend.  

So guys, if you are keen to add a bit of swarovski brilliance to your sword, game is on!   It's like the stuff of fairy tales.  The story of the Knight in shining armour and his jewel encrusted sword.  He is the envy of all the land.  The combination of his talented swordsmanship and magical tool leave all that encounter his brilliance quivering in anticipation and awe.  It's the stuff dreams are made of.

But until now it seems us ladies have been the only ones putting ourselves under enormous pressure and physical pain to keep our landscape design up with the latest trends.

One of my favourite photographers Rankin, who is way ahead of his time and also loves a good vagina shot, may have hit on a more achievable home style vajazzle experience.  Let's call it the vajsprinkle.  

Easy to achieve with a few commonly found household products.  Best of all it's totally edible.  That's got to add a little more spice than a couple of fake diamonds.  It also removes the need for all those pesky questions about what happens when the hair starts sprouting again or if the guys hair gets all tangled up around the crystals.

So if you are seeking a new experience look no further than the baking section of your local supermarket and get vajsprinkling today!

Grateful For Boys

This week I posted this photo and comment on my Facebook page.

My daughter Suki. She astounds me daily with her wisdom, beauty, creativity, humour, generosity, intelligence, ingenuity, originality, care, thoughtfulness and OH so many things.

But today I am grateful for boys.  For boys and their untrappable, endless energy. 

At a skating event today the air of anticipation was palpable as the town's boys and young men mulled about waiting to take the stage.  Soaring through the air on thin planks of wood.  Impressing us all with their skill and bravery.  Encouraging and supporting each other through the highs and lows.   

I wanted to bottle the collective spirit and energy in that space.  You could seriously run a small town on the force that runs through boys veins.

Living with boys in your life is often like living with your heart permanently in your throat.  Boys do stupid stuff all the time.  They leap and dive and somersault.  They keep on going and going, often surviving on what seems like little more than air.  But don't get me wrong, at some point the pain in their stomachs will override and they will eat you out of house and home.

I love their vibrancy.  Their vest for life and adventure.  Their curiosity and bravery.  I love their uncomplicated mateship and sense of competitiveness.

There is nothing better than sharing a space with boys doing what they were meant to do. 

And I also love that they all, young and old, still need a hug and a smooch from their Mum from time to time.

This is part of Maxabella's Grateful blog hop, check it out.

Bedtime Stories

Bedtime reading can sometimes be yet another chore to attend to at the end of the day.  All depends on the book really.  We have an overflowing bookshelf.  Books were cheap in London.  Some of these books have been read and read and read.  To death.  In fact a couple of them I can hardly bare to look at.  Not because they are dreadful.  But because I have now been reading them for nearly 10 years.  The old favourites.  I can read them in my sleep, the pictures and words become like a psychedelic experience swirling around in my dreams.

One such book is YOU CHOOSE by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart .

For anyone who reads this blog and has been a visitor in my home at anytime, there is a good chance you have been introduced to this one, accosted by my children to read this book with them.  Again, again!  Full of colour and quirky drawings, it asks the reader to become involved by choosing their own adventure from a wonderful selection of scenarios.  An exciting book, great for encouraging a love of reading.  The first page asks: If you could go anywhere, where would you go?

It goes on to let you to choose your own character and friends, your home and outfits and jobs.

Every time the book is read you can choose a totally different life.

For my kids this book has never ever lost its appeal, even my 10 year old will still give this one a stab, and it's been hanging around for years.  But there are some days I just can't face reading this one now, the kids understand and graciously put it away.

Another favourite which appeals to my toilet humour is: The Story of the Little Mole who knew it was None of his Business, by Werner Holzwarth/Wolf Erlbruch.

Must be a German thing, as it's verging on rather un PC in our culture.  In fact I read that it was originally banned in the US when it was first published in 1964.  The little mole starts out perplexed and rather annoyed to find something has pooed on his head.

The rest of book follows his journey to discover who exactly has done this on his head.  He asked various other animals: Did you do this on my head?

Each animal then explains that it couldn't have been them, and then follows an explanation of how these animals poo.

Finally, with the help of some knowledgeable flies, he finds the culprit and executes his revenge.  See, it's totally un PC to condone the revenge, but it is brilliant and matter of fact (as only Germans can be) and appeals to the potty humour in us all, young and old.  It is also quite educational .  It was a primary school teacher who gave this book to our family.  I still find enjoyment in this story after all these years.

My most recent favourite is: Beware of the Frog by William Bee.

I discovered this book when I was in London last year in one of my all time favourite book shops, the Tate Modern bookshop.  A place to wile away an hour or two in absolute bliss.  I didn't really read the story when I bought it, I just really loved the retro style artwork.

It turned out to be such a cute story.  Little Mrs Collywobbles lives near a big dark scary forest and only has her trusty frog to protect from all the nasty creatures that emerge from forest to do her harm.  With funny catchy little verses and a surprising conclusion it has become a family favourite.

Lucien took it into school to read to his class and the book stayed for a term.  It was so popular with his class that they turned into a play that was performed in front of the school.

William Bee's website is lovely and I am pleased to find he was written a couple of other books I am now keen to track down, especially the one about the little boy who can only say 'Whatever'.  Reminds me of the story of Pierre by Maurice Sendak.  "Even when a hungry lion comes to pay a call, Pierre won't snap out of his ennui. Every child has one of these days sometimes."  Sometimes?  How about everyday in this house!

What are your family favourites?

Grateful For

Today I am grateful for finally getting myself together and completing a little project that's been hanging around for a good 6 months now.  It feels good to finally accomplish a plan.

I bought this sideboard at Vinnie's at least 6 months ago.  I bought it home whereupon it sat in the driveway under the porch for about 3 months making the house look like a junk yard.  I then managed to move it into the garage where it has been for the last 3 months.  In fact it had become the start of a pile of things earmarked for a garage sale. I had practically given up on my creative pursuit to turn this ugly duckling into a swan.

But I don't know what happened.  I had a sudden burst of energy and commitment to the project.  I ceased the day and just got on with it, and I virtually didn't stop till today.

And because everyone loves a before and after photo. Here they are.

BEFORE

 

AFTER

A few little tweaks to go.  I bought some beautiful bone handles for the door and drawer on eBay. The drawer is a bit tricky getting in and out so might need some sanding.  If anyone has any tips let me know.  My inspiration came from here.

So get up and just do those projects you've been putting off, you will be grateful.

This is part of Maxabella's blog hop. Check it out.

Little Buddhas

 Image care of here, where you can purchase and try for yourself.

Fairy Eggs have been all the rage at my kids school lately.  They start life as brightly coloured little beads not much bigger than a grain of rice.

When mixed with water they then expand to about 150 times their original size into wonderfully squishy and slimy balls.  Solid, yet jelly like, and in such a gorgeous variety of transparent colours.  There is something quite sensual about the feel of them in your hands.  The beauty of a bowl full of these colourful eggs is quite charming and magical.

My kids attend a school where Buddhism is offered as a choice for their religious education.  We are not a religious family but both Brad and myself have spent much time contemplating our spirituality and we are both drawn towards Buddhist philosophy.

Brad, more so than I,  has dedicated a lot of time to meditation practice and has completed three vipassana meditation retreats both in Australia and in Nepal.   I had my first foray into vipassana last year at a 10 day retreat in the Blue Mountains. Vipassana means; to see things as they really are.  It is an ancient Indian meditation technique.  A remedy to the universal ills.  A pathway to truth,  to freedom from suffering and misery. 

Last week my son came home with a bag full of fairy eggs.  He had been given them by his Buddhist teacher.  That day the class had done a meditation about fairy eggs.   I was intrigued by the concept.  Later that afternoon I bumped into his teacher at the pool where upon I asked her how on earth you do a meditation about fairy eggs.

She explained: Firstly she had asked the children to think about the fairy eggs and describe them.  They had said things like; they are beautiful and colourful, they start out very small and grow much bigger, some larger than others.  She had asked them to describe how they felt watching the eggs grow.  They said things like; it is exciting and interesting and surprising.  Then she asked how they felt about their own eggs, and they said that they really loved them and wanted to look after them and collect more, that they were precious and lovely to hold.

Next she explained to the kids that just like them, the eggs start off small.  With love and nourishment and care they also would grow into beautiful, wonderful creatures of all different kinds.  From there she lead the children on a meditation which began by imagining themselves as these small colourful eggs.  Imagining themselves being cherished and protected, as precious little eggs full of potential.  Feeling the excitement and joy of the life that love provides.  Growing into a something unique and beautiful and loved by all those around.

I thought it was a truly inspired idea.  By using this popular and coveted school yard item she managed to expand their vision and to help them recognise that those benevolent feelings and thoughts they have towards these fairy eggs can also apply to themselves and others,  and from that, great things will flourish.

Fairy Eggs have since been banned at the school for being the cause of way too much misery and suffering.

MAY ALL BEINGS BE HAPPY.

Grateful for........

Broadway Market Love

Grateful for this wonderful Saturday morning ritual at Broadway Market in East London.  Looking forward to resuming the tradition when we return to London later this year.

This is part of Maxabella Loves blog hop, check it out and enjoy.

Grateful For

This week I am grateful for the almost lost art of letter writing.

For boxes full of old letters and notes and photos and  the places those memories can transport us.

For the interconnectedness of our past and present and future as told through the trinkets collected along our path.

Read here for more.

Have a lovely Weekend.

This is a part of something altogether much grander, please check it out at Maxbella Loves.