ConAir Garment Steamer - Life Changing Decisions About Clothes

I have  never been the sort of person that makes sweeping declarations like “It will change your life!” Actually when I think about things that will change your life, I tend to think of things like:

§  Travelling around the world

§  Buying a dog

§  Having a baby

You know, BIG life changing (and usually marriage changing) things. Well get ready people, for I’ve changed. Just this week I caught myself using those very words to a friend – in relation to a garment steamer.

Yup, I do know how that sounds, but let me just defend myself here. For years I have shopped for clothes following very strict criteria. Must not need ironing. Ever. I browse clothes shops surreptitiously squeezing the life out of all the fabric to see if it wrinkles. Fortunately I have now learnt to spot linen at 10 paces, so the clothes no longer look slept in after I’ve casually breezed past.

I can’t iron. Well, actually that’s not true. I can iron, very badly. I iron wrinkles in, I make perfectly normal fabrics go shiny and cheap looking, and have been known to burn things. I am not one of those ‘try and try again’ until you get it right kind of people. There are some things of significance that I will work at because I feel I should– like trying to keep football players and current footy controversies straight in my head so I can at least nod intelligently about what my husband talks about incessantly – but for others (cooking, ironing, jigsaw puzzles) I am happy to just admit defeat and throw in the towel.

When even getting dressed up in a corset and elaborate head attire couldn’t ease that “OMG, I hate ironing” headache, I knew the time had come to quit.

But let’s be honest. It does limit your wardrobe options.

So imagine my excitement when I found out about this handy gadget that allows you to just wave the nozzle over the item of clothing and watch the creases disappear. It’s like magic. Seriously. I realise these are not new – and when I think about how long I’ve been without one I feel a bit nostalgic and the Tiffany song “Could’ve been” starts to play in my head. But as they say, “better late than never”.

My husband bought us the Conair Professional Garment steamer. As always, he did stacks of research and chose the best one (I am still not sure why it’s the best, something to do with additional features like the pants hanger bit). I only know it’s great.

I have now bought dresses, shirts and skirts and take great delight in whizzing around them with the garment steamer to make them all uncrushed and wearable looking. It also has the added benefit of making me feel a bit like a glamorous ‘Devil Wears Prada’ type of fashion magazine employee. Just add one large latte in a takeaway cup, and possibly that awesome head attire.

Get one. It will change your life.

To see the Con-Air range visit their website. 

Zumba With Shereen @ Krave Fitness

I have a confession.

I am a Zumba addict.

I discovered Zumba almost 2 years ago, after spotting an ad in the local paper offering Zumba classes at a school hall, a mere 2 minutes from home. Two prior injuries had stopped me doing anything more energetic than hanging out the washing and walking the dog, so it’s fair to say I approached the first class with a certain amount of trepidation. Could it really be as fun as the ad said? I’m pretty sure that the TV ads lie about exercise. All that exercise equipment they tell you will fold up and neatly fit under the bed? Not true. Those washboard abs you get from rocking side to side on what looks no more scientific than a swivel chair? Doesn’t happen.

From the minute I walked in the door of the hall and saw that the Zumba class was a) just like a party – disco lights and all, and b) filled with REAL people not posers, I was hooked. I danced up a storm, possibly not in time with the music or in the same direction as anyone else, and worked all my sorely neglected muscles. I left that first class on such a high– co-ordination be damned!

For three days afterwards everything hurt. Anyone who thinks Zumba is just a bit of fun dancing should try a Zumba class with Shereen Oliver. A personal trainer and fitness guru, she makes sure her classes give you a proper workout.  I had pain in places I didn’t know existed.

Week after week I went back. I would dance on the sidelines, so enraptured with the skill and enthusiasm of instructor Shereen that if she made eye contact with me I would forget what I was doing and give her my best demonstration of how NOT to do the moves. My history of short loved passions meant I would probably give it three months and then abandon it, and yet the love for it grew.

Over time I grew fitter and more confident. My dancing didn’t improve that much; I just wasn’t as embarrassed to make mistakes. I was having fun and working hard, who cared if I would never look as good or coordinated as Shereen? I added Zumba Toning to my week, and started building some strength as well as cardio fitness.

Shereen became a good friend who introduced me to some amazing people who inspire me on a daily basis with their health and fitness achievements. She can still throw me off my game when she aims her dazzling smile my way, clearly I may never develop the skill to stop concentrating even momentarily, but I can live with that. My ability to sing along to songs in foreign languages with my own interpretation of the words improves daily.

I still have a way to go to be any kind of Zumba expert, but when I think back to that very first class I am amazed at how far I’ve come. I’ve even made it to the stage on occasion and in quieter moments have toyed with the idea of being a certified instructor, just to have achieved it.

My injuries still give me trouble, but for the first time I persevere through them, rather than fearing them. I am careful, I favour my shoulder when it needs it but rather than not turn up I simply focus my efforts on my legs. I would rather do it without ‘arms’ than miss a class, and that was unheard of in my Pre-Zumba life. Wanting to do exercise? Insane!

I thank Shereen each and every day for introducing me to Zumba. For while the reality is that while Shereen looks like this:

and I fear I look a lot more like this:

I love it.

To join Shereen for Zumba, check out Krave Fitness in Penrith. When you get there, come say hi.  I’ll be the one up the front with the big grin (potentially dancing in the wrong direction).

Band of Magicians - Sydney Festival

We live in a world of instant knowledge. Wikopedia is on hand to tell you the origins of St Patrick’s Day and IMDB can tell you exactly where you’ve seen that actor that’s been tormenting you with her familiarity in the latest episode of The Good Wife. There’s very little mystery left in the world, very little need to lie awake at night pondering the universe or, in my case, exactly how a fax machine works. Since the invention of the internet, there’s been an absence of unanswered questions rattling around this brain.

Unless you count magic. Magic is truly one of the last remaining areas of mystery and an area I refuse to research, or try to “figure out”, lest the wonder fade. I love the “how did they do that?” and am quick to shut my husband up if he starts to explain it.

A few months ago I saw the Band Of Magicians: Four best-mate magician friends, each specialising in his own “brand” of magic, brought together  by Aussie magician James Galea. I still remember how it felt to be glued to my seat, am still shaking my head in disbelief, and yes, months later I am still talking about that show.

The show was fun and dynamic, the magic truly wondrous. I wish I had thought to take some young friends of mine who are thrilled by magic and are always keen to share their card tricks with me so I can ooh and ahh accordingly. If I had taken them with me I would have gone to the top of their “favourite people list” with a bullet for the show was amazing.

It was great to see James do his famous card tricks, including “673 King St”, the one that earned him over 3 million views on YouTube when he made an appearance at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2009.  For those of you unfamiliar with James’ work, here is the link to that clip. I am positive that I have convinced almost everyone I know to watch this clip after seeing it live, so here you go – do yourself a favour and watch.

James Gallea Card Trick

I wasn’t familiar with the remaining members of the Band of Magicians, but I am keen to see them again whenever possible. Justin Flom, Justin William and Nate Staniforth were the perfect accompaniment to James, making them an impressive magician boy band (who in typical boy band style, weren’t hard on the eyes either!). Unlike magicians of old, with their secrecy and air of superiority, these guys were down to earth, filled with good humor and audience participation was high. I laughed lots, was stunned into silence (no mean feat), and now rate Band of Magicians as one of the best shows I have ever been to.

In the hope that these guys grace our shores again, I will not talk about their show in detail other than to say that I still catch myself thinking about their magic. It’s a show I will always remember, and now that I follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, I intend to be first in the know and first in line for tickets the next time ’round.

Photos courtesy of Band of Magicians Facebook page.

Just Call me Gidget - QT Gold Coast

Recently hubby and I decided a spur of the moment, whirlwind interstate trip was in order. Our friends were planning a Gold Coast holiday that included a 2 hour jet ski tour to Stradbroke Island which sounded like fun, so we thought we’d tag along for a 6 day mini holiday.

We decided to spend three nights with them at Burleigh Heads in a tried and tested budget apartment. Then we would treat ourselves to something special at Surfers Paradise for a couple of nights.

After much deliberation we settled on the QT. As always, I did lots of Googling, reading countless reviews before making the decision, but this time it was this single phrase that summed up my incredible desire to stay there:

“If we have to choose just one theme to sum up this funky new hotel, surely it’s Gidget goes to Surfers Paradise.”

- Susan Kurosawa, The Australian, 7/12/12.

It would take a stronger person than me to resist that sort of description. I mean, Gidget! I don’t know about you but I grew up quite remorseful that I missed that era while watching Gidget re-runs on TV.

I love the unusual, the retro and the unexpected. Add to that the fact it housed Bazaar restaurant and I was sold. Described as a ‘must-do’ restaurant at Surfers, it is an interactive international marketplace where your plate is your passport.

Yes please.

We arrived at the QT and I was instantly in love with the decor. So fun, so hip and so colourful.

How amazing are those chairs? I want. I might have to overhaul my entire house to accommodate them, but still.

There is even a welcome stand of fresh lemonade in the lobby. Small glass bottles with the most adorable yellow and white straws nestle in a wooden crate, just waiting to be filled. 

We had reserved the Ocean View King Suite for our stay, and the room did not disappoint.

The QT is a fantastic hotel, but for me the joy was all in the little details. The brightly coloured metal cups in the bathroom. I remember those! When I was growing up we had four of these style cups in all different colours. I always wanted the green one.

 The mini bar was a treasure trove of nostalgic goodies, including some very tempting sweets, and games like Pick Up Sticks and Jacks.

The best part though, without a doubt was the ‘Do It Yourself” fresh lemonade.  Each room at the QT comes equipped with everything you need to make your own lemonade ‘old school’. Just one quick call to the lobby and we had fresh lemons and Pelegrino water to mix with the sugar syrup and stir with cool swizzle sticks.

 Real lemonade is delicious!  Dear hubby wasn’t feeling well so I went for a wander downstairs and tried very hard to resist the amazing looking goodies at Fixx Cafe.

 Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and sadly we didn’t make it to Bazaar Restaurant for dinner. Hubby’s condition worsened and we spent our final day at Gold Coast Emergency ward.  Not exactly the end to our mini holiday we were expecting!

Ah well, all the more reason to go back. Well that and the Vespa just begging to be taken for a ride in the driveway.