It’s fairly safe to safe I had a pretty average start to 2012. It seems luck just wasn’t coming my way. There was a little house flooding, I was pulled over by the police not once, but twice (just for the record I was only doing the wrong thing once) and I have managed to make it through the whole of the first week of the year on cheese slices, Christmas chocolate and muesli bars.

But then yesterday my faith was restored. Not only in my luck, but in people generally. I headed out to Fitzroy to buy bread from my favourite organic bakery, only to discover it was closed. Yep, more bad luck. And then whilst trying to put money in the meter so I could enjoy breakfast with friends at Birdman Eating next door, the machine ate all my silver change and didn’t spit out a ticket.

My frustration was immense. I texted the number on the meter advising what had happened and that I was only staying an hour. And then I went to breakfast – if I was fined I was going to fight it!

Breakfast was great and I returned to my car an hour and ten minutes later – only to round the corner and see that tell tale white slip of paper sitting on my dash. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

But then as I got closer, I discovered it wasn’t in fact, a ticket. Whether it was a parking inspector or a good samaritian, someone had paid the one hour parking fee and placed a ticket in my car. It had been done only 5 minutes after I left my car and as much as I have no idea either way as to whether it was an inspector or a stranger, my faith (and luck) was restored.

Amusingly, I had trouble with the parking meter at my next destination as well, but my trip to Fitzroy yesterday will bouy me for weeks. I have kept the ticket as a good luck charm and when I feel like everything is against me, I am going to look at that ticket and remember that sometimes, you find luck where you least expect it.

Tomorrow (Sunday), I will be 27 and 11/12ths. I am starting to feel old.

There are several factors that have led to this conclusion including my long hours at the office (very middle aged man), Friday nights at home alone on the couch with Sex and the City (very middle aged – single – woman) and my increasing desire to be in bed at a reasonable hour (just shoot me).

Nevertheless, in my quest to find a better work/life balance (ie. less time at the desk AND the couch), I am going to endeavor to stop looking at these things as negative and just start thinking positively – I mean, it can’t hurt right?

While the long hours suck (I don’t care how much you love what you do – no one wants to be at work for 15 hours a day, watching the sunset from their desk), I am changing my thinking to a more ‘look at what I am achieving’ point of view.

The Friday nights watching SATC are often preceeded by a drink with a friend, or in the case of last night, a swim (okay, we swam two laps, thought we might die and figured the water slide and wave pool were safer). We laughed at ourselves quite easily (very healthy) and then returned home for noodles (where we both ate the whole box) and bad free to air TV. And a GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP.

Which is why I am feeling so positive this morning. The sun is shining and I have had a productive – if long – week. I have no definite plans for the weekend and I can’t wait to just go for a walk, have a coffee, read the paper, watch some new Gossip Girl, have an impromtu catch up with a friend, or just be.

Cue skirt, on sale for $118

On a more fashion-y note, this week, I finally made it to some of the after Xmas sales. While I definitely should not be shopping (I confess I owe Civic Compliance a little of my salary at the moment), I managed to pick up a gorgeous Blair-esque Cue skirt (above) and an ASOS dress (below).

ASOS Fit and Flare Dress $76

Shopping just makes life more positive, doesn’t it?

PS Mum, I didn’t paty $118 for the Cue skirt. I got an extra 20% off for being a Cue Card holder and I had a $50 gift voucher from my birthday eleven months ago. It was going to expire so it was totally justified. Skirt cost me $40. Awesome bargain huh!

The start of another year and a time traditionally reserved for resolutions, new beginnings and the symbolic time to commence anything ‘big’.

In the recent months you will have noticed that I have been unable to blog as regularly as I did in the past, and certainly not with the humour (or at least I like to think!) that you are used to. I know the quality isn’t as good (much as I hate to admit it) but life got in the way (so to speak) and my whole work/life balance became more of a work/work balance (you know what I mean).

I love fashion and Melbourne, events, food and the general happenings around me more so when I don’t get to experience them on a daily basis. I lie in bed at night, knowing I have to get up for work in 5 hours, thinking about all the things I am missing out on by sleeping (and working), and all the things I could be writing about if I had the time.

Recently, a friend quit social media because she suffered incredibly from watching Facebook and Twitter statuses while at work, or at home – FOMO (fear of missing out). I can totally relate to this – but there is no way I am giving up social media.

So here it is. Until I find a bit more work/life balance (and if you know where to find it, hook a girl up), I resolve to only blog the good stuff – and if that means blog posts are two weeks apart, then I have to be okay with that. I hope you are too.

Happy New Year Everyone. Here is to a work/life 2012.

Happy New Year everyone.

Wishing you have a wonderful night and that the year ahead is full of laughter, ambition, happiness, inspiration, love, excitement, anticipation, joy and wonder.

But most of all, I wish you hope.

Inspiration thanks to Willow and Blake.

Mt Hotham
Ella’s first ski trip
August, 2011

Honey Bar and Restaurant
My birthday with Felicity
February, 2011

Honey Bar and Restaurant
Sandi’s Birthday
May, 2011

Paris, April 2011

Product Talk by Nuffnang

There are four working days until the Christmas break.

Twenty four working hours until a whole week of sun, sand and surf.

Thanks to OPSM, I’m all set in the eye protection department, but we all know I have been a little lazy this year when it comes to skin protection.

Who could forget my Derby Day sunburn? Or the Australian Open back in January?

While I have stepped up the facial moisturiser with built in sunscreen, I think I got burnt just walking to a meeting last week and I have some to realise my skin isn’t getting any younger. It’s time I started paying more attention to the UV than the LV. (Thats Louis Vuitton for the uninitiated).

So, sunscreen. Many options – where to start?

Given I have sensitive skin, I went with Hamilton Sensitive Sunscreen – I certainly don’t want to be looking after my sunburn and getting a bout of excema in the process!

I don’t spend a lot of time in the water, but it’s still a good idea to reapply every so often. It also helps if you have a yummy looking man to rub in the hard to reach places (and fetch tropical drinks).

For everyone else, Hamilton Family is a good choice. Great for the body and face, it protects Mums and Dads – I also have some Hamilton Toddler for my cuter than thou niece Miss E. Don’t want her baby soft skin getting too much sun too early.

Miss E does sunsmart in her hat and sunscreen!

Sunscreen taken care of? Check. Sunnies good to go? Check. It’s time to start looking for a hat!

See you at the beach, and don’t forget to slip, slop, slap!

Check out all the gorgeousness from the OPSM Sunshine Tour! The weather in Melbourne was perfect the day the ice cream van rolled into town – we could not have asked for a more sunglasses worthy day!

Fashionable favourite Philip Boon rocking his shades

I think I’ll take one of each please…

Miss Cecylia checking out the goods

These ones are nice!

The crew have some fun

After lots of trying on and smiles for the camera, I decided on these Burberry beauties. What do you think?

Thanks to Couturing for images and to OPSM for a lovely afternoon!