My Secret Purple Life :)

It's not something I talk about often.

 In fact, many of my closest friends had no idea that I am, and almost always have been, a huge fan of the musician, Prince. Shocking, I know :)

 This photo of me in my favourite and well-worn Purple Rain t-shirt (which I may still have somewhere) with my brother dates back to my early teenage years, when my hair was short (for the first time since I was a baby) and my legs were skinny :) From the moment I heard the opening melody of "When Doves Cry", I was a fan.

The obsession only grew as I discovered his earlier albums...For You, Prince, Dirty Mind, Contraversy,1999. ..loved them all. I decorated my bedroom with Prince posters  (and chocolate wrappers, but that's a story for another time LOL), and basically did the teenage hero worship thing.

As each new album was released during the 1980's and 1990's, they became my new favourite.

 CDs gradually overtook vinyl as the preferred format for music and my vinyl collection of older Prince albums became less and less listened to....the music quality of CDs was so much better, and my record player wasn't exactly putting out clean, crisp sound :)

Fast forward to earlier this year, when I discovered the wonderful world of i-tunes! There they were, my very favourite Prince albums, all listed and available for purchase and download to my iphone! My credit card took a major battering as I added each one to my collection once again, and I listened happily for hours on end...my earphones a permanent attachment to my head.

Then came the news in April that Prince was touring Australia for the first time in almost 10 years...Eastern states only, and in May. My credit card may never ever recover, but I just HAD to go.

 So I booked my ticket...scored the seat of my dreams...and took off for Sydney. My little brother kindly agreed to come too...he's not a fan, but a really good brother :)

 Words can't describe how I felt to be sitting in that audience. It was surreal. As the opening chords of Purple Rain began, the tears were flowing down my cheeks...I was officially overwhelmed.

As each new song began, I would grab my brothers arm, so ecstatic to be witnessing each one of them live. I was like a woman possessed. I danced and sang and cried and clapped so damn hard my hands were aching.

Prince came on for 4 encores that night. As a long term Prince fan, I knew that he will often come back on stage after most of the audience had left and the house lights had come on...and he did. The backing vocalists came on first and motioned for the remaining fans to come down close to the stage, and we experienced our own private jam session with the man himself. Good grief. It just doesn't get any better.

So there you go. My secret purple life is a secret no more...especially since I spent a fortune on Prince merchandise, and once again own a Prince t-shirt that actually fits :)

TTFNxxx



Project Life 2012 - Week Nineteen

And hello Week 19...how fast you came around :)

I've gone a little out of my usual colours with the addition of kraft cardstock this week, and have used lots from Basic Grey's new release, PB & J...papers and stickers in particular. I've also added some stitching with my sewing machine, which is a technique that I used to use ALL the time, but have been too lazy to bother with just lately :)

My boy even made it into a photo this week!

 Perhaps my favourite part of this double spread is the envelope from Sweetwater ( which is what my Label Crew labels come in each month). I moved the stamp and added a few bits and pieces...so cute!

And the most exciting part of this double spread?

Wooohooooo...I DID get the seat of my dreams! I'm flying out to Sydney very early tomorrow morning...just the other side of the country LOL...to see Prince in concert, and to say I'm excited is an understatement! I have been a Prince fan since my early teenage years, and to have the opportunity to be at one of his concerts  is a dream come true for me.

I'll tell you all about it when I get back ;)

TTFN xxx

Project Life 2012 - Week Eighteen

Hello Project Life Week Eighteen :)

Another pink and yellow and aqua kind of week. You could be forgiven for forgetting that I have a husband and son...they just don't hang around here that often these days, and when they are here, they avoid the camera at all costs :)

When I first started putting these Project Life pages together, I tried  to include every family member in each double page spread...now, I take a more realistic approach :) Besides, it allows me free reign to use lots of pink on the pages!

 This week I tried to include more everyday-type photos from around the house...little snippets of our everyday.

And that is the week that was  :)

TTFN xxx



Cookbook discussions.

All too often when I'm out shopping, I find myself drawn to the cookbook section of the department stores. It's an addiction :)

The last thing this house of mine needs is another cookbook, and yet more often than not, a new one finds it's way into my trolley...then onto my coffee table...and then onto the top shelf of my pantry cupboard :)

There are a few things that I look for in a cookbook...

  I look for at least one recipe that I am dying to try...usually a simple recipe, with ingredients that I would have in my fridge and pantry. This cinnamon teacake, for example,  was very simple...but so so good :)  Better still, it was able to be served warm with a jug of fresh cream...perfect for when you've invited friends over on a Sunday morning (and you don't want to give up your sleep-in!)

I look for great photos...

 ...and a photo of each and every recipe. I like to know what my finished product is supposed to look like :)

I also like a cookbook that is not just recipes...

...a cookbook that I can sit and read, that has little snippets of stories or interesting information that can entertain me while I sip my cup of tea.

And I look for simplicity. I'm not a great cook by any stretch of the imagination, and my repetoire is quite limited. I like to go a little out of my comfort zone...but not a lot :) Baking something that my family will love to eat is much more important to me than using hard-to-find ingredients to make a dish that will probably end up in the bin....and trying to master advanced techniques when my time is limited usually leaves me more frustrated than happy!

For the record...the book pictured above is my go-to cookbook at the moment :) Lots of yummy, easy and family friendly recipes in that one!

Do you have a favourite cookbook? And what do you look for when buying a new cookbook? Just curious :)

TTFN xxx

Project Life Overload (Weeks 15,16,17)

Happy Friday people!

 It's another beautiful rainy day here in Perth...I love the rain so much! It means I don't have to make excuses to myself for spending the day inside, drinking tea, NOT doing the washing  and getting my craft on :)

I'm having a bit of a Project Life-fest today, after printing off three weeks worth of photos during the week. If there was ever any proof needed for how fast time is flying, then this is it. Three weeks? NO WAY! I've just included the highlights...hope you don't mind :)

Love this photo...such a great reminder of how much my boy is growing (like he doesn't remind me almost daily!)

Week 15 is not my favourite. I've used Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 papers and embellishments as the base, and they are not my usual colour palette. That being said, though...I love having such a great variety of papers in this album. It keeps me interested (and I am very easily distracted!)

Week 16 is bright! I've used Echo Park Little Girl Collection Pack as a base this time...this seems to be how I'm going to roll with Project Life...pick a paper collection and use it as the basis for my week. I'd like to be using all my bits and bobs, but the honest truth is that I have LOTS of paper collections, and not a lot of time to be searching for matching embellishments.

 Week 17 I went for white minimalist :) which is a look that I LOVE.

Week 17 was a pretty crappy week for me. It's kinda weird that it was, because I had lots of reasons to be happy, but just couldn't seem to find my happy place. Some weeks are like that, I guess :)  

The bit I love most from this weeks spread...

I found this quote in a Sussan catalogue that came in my letterbox, and immediately cut it out. Inspiration really is everywhere :)

If you've made it this far...thanks for reading!

TTFN xxx