As I step ever closer to becoming a formal part of the Holz clan I know how important it is to be excepted by your partners family. After all Richard chose me, they just got lumped with me. So I can only assume that the very open, public acceptance that has been shown to the Duchess of Cambridge by her husbands family must warm her heart. It made me smile last week to see that she is now an official part of what was William and Harry’s foundation.
I have to applaud them for not going crazy straight away and finding just three areas where they want to make an impact. It’s so easy to try to be all things to all people and I am sure there was pressure to do so. Its how I would do it.
What a great quote under that banner. Yes, the cynics will say it is a well crafted message by well paid PR advisers but I don’t care. What I do care about is that they taking advantage of the position they find themselves in for good. This is exactly the role that I think royalty should play in the modern world and definitely something the British Monarchy does exceptionally well.
Thinking about: all of the things that need doing before the wedding. The amount of work to do both at home for the wedding/honeymoon and at work is mind numbing. Sometimes, when it all gets too much, I just have to sit with my head in my hands and stop. My parents used to say to me “how do you eat an elephant?” the answer “One bite at a time”. While I know this logic works sometimes it can be hard to not chew on that elephant and think Ï will never finish eating all this before it goes off”. A lot of people (including Richard who has been unbelievable) have been so helpful to us in getting us organised and I am so grateful to them. To be completely honest with you though I wouldn’t have it any other way and I would genuinely regret it later in life if I hadn’t been a driving force in pulling the day together, it will be a proper celebration of us because we did it. I would never give that up.
Motivation: that at the end of all of this work I will be Mrs Alys Holz! It is really important to remember that, because it is the MOST IMPORTANT THING! Everything else that seems so important right now really isn’t, what matters is that by the end of August we will be married.
Watching: it tends to be in the background but we are still working our way through House MD (8 seasons takes a long time to get through). There are also new episodes of Once Upon a Time, Big Bang Theory, Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Conan for our viewing pleasure. Not really focusing on any one thing at the moment but and I look forward to a marathon of something once the wedding is over and we get our weekends back.
Obsessing over: the little details for the wedding. We’ve done all the big things so now everything is about the little details. With two months to go now is the time to order any supplies we need online and to start making the rest of them ourselves. I am so glad that we have a venue with a planner and decided to invest in a decorator. Not only does it mean that we have professionals looking after us but it also means at the end we aren’t going to have a room full of wax lanterns.
A good cause: I adore our Rorschach, he really is our first child, and I cannot imagine ever hurting him. I know though that he is lucky. Not every animal is treated with love the way he is. There are a few charities out there working hard to protect animals but I personally support the RSPCA. I am attracted to the fact that they run both on the ground, practicial programmes to care for and protect animals. As well as the national campaigns around public and government awareness of animal cruelty and protection. I am not a vegetarian though I do believe in trying, where I can, to buy from suppliers who care about animals too. The RSPCA’s Shop Humane campaign around humane foods is a great one, find out more on their website.
Praying for: good weather for the wedding. It doesn’t have to be dry as our venue is indoors (but not) and I think rain in wedding photos can look good. But I really don’t want to walk along George St in my dress with the risk of it getting wet. I am already having to line up my entire family to carry my dress so it doesn’t touch the ground – it cannot be dirty before I even arrive – adding rain to the mix just makes me nervous. So here is to a gorgeous day with plenty of sunshine and that lovely nearly spring weather you so often get at the end of August.
Wishing: scientists had figured out how to clone people, I could really use 3 of me rught now. They need to be clones of me rather than assistants for the simple fact that I don’t have time to supervise more people, I just need bodies to get the work done. At least if they were all me I would know that they would think/react/purchase the same way as I would. As long as there was a clear plan of who was looking after what for work/wedding/honeymoon/life we would get it done and be a great team.
Listening to/Reading: Enders Game by Orson Scott Card but as an audio book. The book itself is fantastic. I barely believe that it was originally written in the 80s, it really could be set now the story is so relevant to now. Audio books are something to get used to, and I am still working on it.
Thinking about: what to get Richard for his birthday on May 2. Right now I am in the awkward place where I have a few ideas but none stand out as the clear winner. Here’s hoping something comes to me that I can get in time for Wednesday. Oh, I also need to get cards for Mothers Day and my mother-in-law (Richard and his Mum share the same birthday).
A good cause: The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. The Salvos annual major fundraising drive this helps fund the vast network of social and community services delievered each year. One of the biggest things I have learnt about the Salvos working in the NFP sector is that the masses expect the Salvos to be there for Australians in times of need. Aussies trust the Salvos and with good reason, they do incredible work with those who need help the most. But I think we can forget sometimes that all of that takes money, although many are volunteers there are still many who work every day to help the less fortunate. Please give as generously as you can online or when someone knocks on your door this year for the Red Shield Appeal.
Anticipating: Diablo 3 (Australian release date is May 17). Got the chance to play a beta test version recently and loved it. It doesn’t hurt that my demon hunter appeared to be wearing Louboutins.
Listening to: Elizabeth Mitchell! I was watching a video over on A Cup of Jo and just loved the song. So as you do I headed over to iTunes and grabbed everything I could get my hands on. It is some of the best kids music I have ever heard (no Wiggles to give us nightmares when we have children) a mix of great folk music with simple, repetitive lyrics. Elizabeth’s music has such a positive, joyous nature to it just love it!
Watching: House MD. Sadly, I’ve been watching it so much I’ve been having dreams about being hospitalized and every headache can only be cured by brain surgery. Still, it’s fascinating though I hope never to get House as my doctor.
Obsessing over: hair pieces for my bridesmaids. I can see in my minds eye exactly what I want but I am having no luck finding it. I know I have time to find something but I am a little nervous that I won’t find it and in my obsessing over it will leave it too long to find anything I am actually happy with. Long Etsy searches have come up with some ideas but they aren’t exactly right. I am hoping that soon I will find something close enough to make me happy.
Working on: writing our wedding ceremony. Although the wedding is 4 months away, wisely Beh-roze our celebrant asked us to get it finished early. To be honest it’s a bit daunting but exciting at the same time. This is by far the biggest thing we have ever done together and although the words themselves may fade in our memories what will stay is the way that the words make us feel. Its the laughter and tears that will be what we tell our grandchildren about. We are writing our vows separately. I won’t know what Richard says until the day, I keep coming up with random bits to include but I need to sit down somewhere without him to write mine.
Wishing: for more time in every day. Big changes are happening at work and while there are some exciting new projects coming up time is flying by. I would use the extra time to plan the wedding, in particular right now the honeymoon. I am pretty happy with how organised the wedding is but I am starting to realise how much I hadn’t thought of. I am also acutely aware that this will only happen once in my life, so would like more time to savor this incredible moment.
The concept for this feature grew from a post on one of my favourite blogs Sometimes Sweet. Photo of peonies comes from A Cup of Jo, I love peonies but sadly they are out of season for the wedding.
Something wonderful happens when fashion and a good cause work together towards a common goal.
The Witchery White Shirt Campaign is my favourite example of how these two can work together. As implied in the title buy a white shirt from the collection and 100% of the gross proceeds of the shirt go to Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. OCRF is focused upon the understanding of the causes of ovarian cancer, its early detection and improving patient survival. What I didn’t realise until I had heard of this campaign was that although ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women most ovarian cancers are not diagnosed until the late stages of the disease. If there is one thing I have learned about cancer getting it early is so, so important if there is any hope of surviving.
Please if you have or know anyone with ovaries jump online now or head into store to buy a shirt from the collection. Or visit their Everyday Hero page and donate directly.
Just hoping that this weekend neither of us have to work. Doesn’t sound like much to ask but it sort of is at the moment.
A few blogs I follow have linked to this article. I figured that was the universe telling me to read it. Now I think you should too – heartbreaking and inspiring.
OMG! You can actually get married at Disneyland!
Speaking of Disney a little while back I posted about Disney Princesses as cover girls, well here is the update
For those bored with the old lorem ipsum why not try cupcake ipsum
TRH Duke and Duchess of Cambridge continue using the insane amount of media attention they get to do their part for those in need with a visit to Denmark hosted by TRH Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark
HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip have been in Australia this week, wish I’d gone to see her in Sydney but hope colleagues in Perth enjoy the public holiday
Photo taken by Richard on his lunchbreak recently from Milsons Point. I used to work in MP as well and remember the view well.
