Armchair Heaven

You would all be aware that I adore armchairs. What you possibly don't realise is just how much they give me goosebumps when they are in a room looking lovely all on their lonesome. I love how they bring a different dimension to a room no matter what style, minimalist, french or relaxed Australian they just make you want to sit down and relax.

These are a few of my all time favorites, different styles, different rooms and different chairs and yet they all seem to add to the room somehow...

Pretty Things

For the past three days I have been stuck in a tiny little conference room going through a 300 page document word by word and making sure it stands up as a contract.

Oh my god, to be honest I am totally completely worded out. I don't even want to think about the way numbers have to be spelled not numbered as in two (2) and where a comma goes doesn't really press my buttons.

I have also fallen desperately in love with coffee. Its insane just how much I need to survive 8 hours looking at the same document.

So in honour of having no words left in me I thought I would use pretty pictures instead.

Blue, White & Silver

I love the fact that things have changed regarding Christmas. Traditionally it was red, green and gold and while I absolutely adore the lovely warm feel Christmas colours give I have to say ... I am just a little bit in love with all the modern variations.

This year I decided to use pale blue and silver for my gift wrapping. Some lovely simple silver ribbon and some amazing patterned paper and they look so pretty. I cant wait to put them under the tree.

What do you think of pale blue and silver ... is this festive enough or do you think it will date? If so, does it matter that it dates? How often do you update your decorations?

Christmas All Wrapped Up

As you can tell we are not quite in December and I am already talking about Christmas.

I love Christmas, not even so much the day but that lovely warm feeling you get when you walk into the Christmas Section at the big department stores and everything is sparkly and shiny and the music is playing and all you want to do is wander around all day long looking at all the pretty things.

One of my big must-do's is to get all of my Christmas shopping out the way before we hit the 1st of December. I hate the stress and crowds that December shopping create so I always try and get it out of the way early.

Yet again, I have managed to have everything done so now I am turning my mind to how to wrap these lovely little presents... As always my first source of inspiration is Martha Stewart and here are some of my favorites.

My Boss the Hypocrite

I am sorry but today I am going slightly off track.

This blog is not about the house its about how bloody hypocritical the world is today. I work in a large oil and gas company for a small engineering division. I do my job very well and very efficiently, I get things done straight away so I'm never snowed under and I never have to do overtime. I have heard ... from people that a lot of the coordinators within the company are either leaving for more money or are getting more money and decided that during my performance review I would ask for an increase in salary from my boss.

This is the response i received:

Boss - "Let me start by saying, you do a great job, you always get everything done I ask, you go above and beyond your job description and you manage the team well.... however you don't look that busy or stretched so I cant really justify the pay rise."

Miss V - "What do you mean?"

Boss - "Well you need to become more serious, you need to look flat out and you need to look like you are wanting to move up in the company"

Miss V - "But I don't want to move up I just want to get paid what I'm worth"

Boss - "yes but you see its all about perception, you need to do more hours."

Miss V - "But I don't need to do more hours, I get the work done in my hours and you don't pay me for more hours. If others cant manage their time why should I suffer for it"

Boss - "All I'm saying is - other peoples perception is that you only do what you have to and then you go home, the project isn't your life and soul"

Miss V - "Why would it be, its a job, I do the job well and then go home. I'm not running the project ... I don't want more responsibility, I just want to do my job and go home."

Boss - "Yes I know that but its how you look to others"

Miss V - "But shouldn't it be my managers perception that matters"

End of discussion - How bloody stupid is this guy. Aghhh. So in honor of my pain in the arse boss I would very much like to exchange him with any one of these poor people.... I am thinking the hippo is my favorite!

Mirrored Finishes

I am totally in love with mirrored furniture at the moment. Totally impractical and it will probably date very quickly but I cant help it.... its just totally divine ... I want it NOW!

Its Begining To Look alot Like Christmas

Oh yes, its that wonderful time of the year, the exciting, frantic sometimes stressful time of the year where you drink way to much, eat way to much and try and fit way to much into your busy schedule. This week is the start of it for me, I have 2 different work Christmas parties, one big office party, next Friday is another Christmas party and then next Saturday is our Christmas dinner since half the family wont be here on Christmas day.

Its exhausting and wonderful but one of my favorite parts of Christmas is decorating the house. I think that a decorated house is the most lovely thing to come home to.... its just warm and inviting and a tiny little bit exciting and I cant wait. I also love the places like body shop now have these amazing Christmas scents so you can add another layer of Christmas wonder into your home. My favorite is always the cranberry... sigh!

Saying that I do feel that some people don't decorate - they invite Santa to come round and throw up all over their house, we like to call this Christmas up-chuck and there is a very fine line between stylish and just plain over the top.

I love the idea of just using red to decorate, simple, clean and elegant but there is no mistaking the fact that its Christmas. These houses have definitely got it right and cant wait till next year when I can finally decorate my own home!