The youngest wants to get her cartilage pierced, so I gave her a lift to the shopping centre on Saturday to try her luck. She was convinced she could pass for 16 and get it done without parental permission. As if! I didn't even bother objecting to the cartilage piercing idea, I knew I was... Continue Reading →

When I was flush with cash I loved shopping on US & UK fashion websites. My favourites included The Outnet, Shop Bop, Lucky Brand and Gap. Outnet still sends me emails. I must remember to unsubscribe, because I'm pretty sure I will never buy designer sale items from there again unless I have a lottery... Continue Reading →

I was shocked to read an AFR article yesterday about Bauer selling its Australian magazine operations to private equity firm Mercury Capital. The sale comes just months after it was forced to continue with its acquisition of Pacific Magazines from Seven West Media for $40 million. Bauer entered the Aussie market in 2012, when it paid... Continue Reading →

I've been invited to a parent-teacher interview in late June and I hesitated before saying yes. Not because I don't want to hear what the teacher has to say ... though that does makes me slightly nervous ... but because the date niggled in my mind and I couldn't work out why. Then I realised... Continue Reading →

A former colleague shared this disturbing infographic on her Facebook feed over the weekend: It's from a mob called ketocustomplan.com, who obviously have no interest in attracting female subscribers over the age of 50, as they will take one look at the sketches representing them and want to start a crowd-funding campaign for a cyber... Continue Reading →

I think it's a measure of how much I love editing drinkstrade.com.au that I almost laughed up a lung when this picture arrived in my inbox yesterday: I'm not sure it's quite so entertaining for people outside the drinks industry, but ... Carlton & United Breweries has launched The Pub Reopening Ceremony, a pub crawl... Continue Reading →

A lingerie store called Honey Birdette sends me saucy emails each week. The latest one was entitled "Going down?" It was ostensibly referring to the prices in its current sale ... Honey Birdette is a bit naughty. It's also a bit expensive, so the emails it sends to me are usually not money spinners. However,... Continue Reading →

Reactions to the photo of my shattered oven door have been fairly whoa. "I've never known anyone to break an oven like that," said my mum's bestie. "Insanity - never heard of that happening," said a friend. "Ohh god, that's not good," said the youngest. "I Googled it and that almost never happens," said the... Continue Reading →

I finally cooked the recipe my sister in law recommended - British Pork & Cider Casserole - last night. It's from a website called Spruce Eats and it's INSANELY good. You start off by browning the meat and softening the veg on the stove top, then you transfer the casserole to the oven to slow cook... Continue Reading →