Just ‘coz I’m a bit of a nosy parker… and a romantic… my question is about you & mister smaggle. anything you fancy divulging: how did you meet? how long have you been together? you have mentioned a couple of times that he’s younger than you – how much?

Alright I’ll tell you… It’s 2002. I’m in a theatre watching a play that my friend is in. All of sudden this tall, gorgeous blond thing walks on stage and my brain goes all ‘Well, hello delicious. Who the hell might you be?’. I’m a sucker for man who can act and he was doing the most perfect Scottish accent – swoon. We spoke briefly after the show and I congratulated him on his performance. My friend Gina who I was seeing in the show was watching this interlude. After he left she came up to me and said ‘Dude. Don’t even think about it. He’s fourteen’. Yeah. Awkward much. I was eighteen at the time so um… ew. In my defense he has been six foot freaking four since he was eleven with a baritone that rivals James Earl Jones. So bite me. Then we kept doing plays together and stayed in contact and then one day, four years later, when it was no longer illegal for me to touch him, we went to see a movie and well…. we will have been together for four years in March. He is spectacular. Totally worth the wait.

What places do you love in Melbourne, esp. for going out for a night on the town?

I love Shanghai Dumpling house and then just down the road is the Shanghai Club where we do karaoke. It’s awesome. Both are just on Little Bourke St at the start of China town. I also love the Toff for cool shows and Section 8 the bar next door to Shanghai Dumpling House. I also love the Westgarth Palace cinema, Mixed Business Cafe in Clifton Hill and Night Cat just off Brunswick Street… and those are pretty much the only places I ever go. Sad.

What recipe are you most proud of and can you give us the step by step instructions to make it?

Easily Smoosh’n'freezin.

It’s a no bake slice that you smoosh in the pan and freeeze. Hence Mr Squiggle naming it ‘Smoosh’n'freezin’.

Ingredients -

70 gms butter

1/2 cup condensed milk

250 gms Gluten free plain biscuits (or if your boyfriend is normal you can use Scotch Fingers or Milk Arrowroots)

1/2 cup of chopped apricots

1/2 chopped white chocolate (or more… I’m usually quite generous with the white choc in this recipe)

1/2 chopped sweet baking ginger

1/2 cup desicated coconut

1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts

1 Packet of Milk or Dark melts

You throw the butter and condensed milk in a small saucepan and over low heat. Stir until butter is melted and mixture is all nice and mixed up.

Break up the biscuits with your hands into a bowl. Make sure to leave some chunks for crunchy goodness.

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Add butter and condensed milk and mix well.

Firmly press mixture into a lined slice pan. REALLY firmly press the mixture. Only if you want it to stay together. If you want it to be a crumbly mess then don’t.

Spread slice with melted chocolate and place in the fridge until firm. Once you have removed it from the fridge let it reach room temperature before you cut the slice otherwise the chocolate will crack.

This is a great recipe because it’s all in 1/2 cup amounts so you can exchange any ingredients  - I’ve used cranberries, pecans, dried bananas… this recipe is so popular as well. I’ve never left a party without an empty plate when I take this.

If you could wake up with any skill – not superpower, but actual skill, like knitting or something – what would it be? In other words, what would you love to be able to do really well without any practice whatsoever?

Singing. Hands down. I wouldn’t say I’m a terrible singer… I can definitely be given a microphone with out fear of puncturing eardrums but a naturally amazing singing voice would be absolutely number one.

Do you have someone whose blog you read or maybe a writer/author/artist, you love their style, you think they are witty and smart and you just think you could be friends with them, like drinking wine and talking?

Oh great question! Yes. Yes and Yes. Daddy Likey. What Claudia Wore. Seth Godin. I actually laugh out loud when I read these blogs – Except Seth’s. I just silently nod in awe. I could prettily easily eat dinner with anyone at Design Sponge too. Actually, screw it. Let’s just have a big old dinner party and invite them all shall I?

What’s in the Smaggle Pack?

A hand crafted Smaggle made ring and some of my favourite tea, chocolate and lip gloss.

What exactly are you hiding in that hair of yours?

Right now…? You don’t want to know. Previous items include bugs, pen lids (after having my hair in pony tail at school all day I came home and washed my hair and TWO pen lids fell out of it), hair bands that I thought I had lost and we also had a yellow budgie called Buddy who loved to hide in it but sometimes he got a bit tangled and couldn’t get out and Mamma Smaggle had to rescue him.

What does Smaggle mean? why did you choose it as your nom de plume? do your family/friends know what it means?

Smaggle – violent affection. I chose it because it sort of defines me I guess. I’m really feisty and forceful but it’s only because I’m just so freaking excited about everything all the time. Plus it’s just a great word. And Mr Smaggle fought tooth and nail for the domain so we felt it was meant to be. Family and friends know the meaning and lots of them now refer to me as Lady Smaggle.

How would you classify your style? I tend to go off-duty-dominatrix/sexretary at work & blogger-casual in evenings/weekends, et vous?

I’m like an art gallery owner in the office. A gypsy in the jewellers workshops. I’m a kindergarten teacher meets house painter when I’m teaching – the kids are gorgeous but very dirty. I’m a fashion week wanna be when I’m out for dinner and on weekends. I experiment the most in my free time. I don’t really have an identity… it’s a bit bizarre actually.

Would you blog if you had no audience? What would your superhero/alterego look like/dress like? If you could rock one look you currently can’t for whatever reason (i cant rock dresses, because i haven’t the presence of mind to sit like a lady, for instance..) what would it be?

I blogged for three months before I made the site live. It was like a dress rehearsal to see if I could commit. So yes, I have blogged when I didn’t have an audience and I would blog without one again. Although it’s so much for fun with you guys around! I would do sleek sophisticated like Audrey Hepburn or Cate Blanchett. I can’t pull off this look because of my hair and general urchin like appearance, most of the time I look like a crawled out from under a rock. If I could I would wear long silk dresses with no accessories and fitted pants and blazers. I look weird when I try to dress too ‘neat’.

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

Etsy

Lady loves…

* Writing blog posts in a blank work email template so that when someone walks past it looks like I’m very busy and important. In my first year as a teacher I had a decoy handbag and a cardigan at work that I would leave over the back of my chair so no one would know that I left work after my last class and they would assume I was photocopying or  curing cancer or something. I got away with that one for a full year. It was awesome.

* The Green Smoothie Challenge. Browny got me onto it. Basically you have to have two green smoothies a day and it literally fills your body with vitamins and sunshine. It has also TOTALLY stopped my cravings for sweet food. Mr Squiggle (Mr Smaggle’s brother) had Jaffas last night and I ate four… and stopped. It was mental. I usually eat so many that my gums start to itch.

* Cooking Browny dinner and introducing her to the Wii Fit. We are going to exercise like addicts tonight. Well… that’s the plan anyway.

* Making jewels for the Smaggle Packs that I’m giving away to three commenters on my Ask Lady Smaggle post. I’ve been working with metal all of last year and it’s lovely to break out the beads again…

* My day to a page Moleskine diary where I write down to do lists, thoughts for the day, recipes… I love it. I have filled the full page everyday since the 1st January and by default every entry is dated. Highly recommended.

* Cold soy lattes with ice.

* Being given a sewing machine from a very special lady. Can’t wait to get all seamtress on you guys.

Lady loathes…

* My flawlessly healthy diet losing the plot everyday after 5pm. It’s all crackers, dip, wine and takeaway food from then on. Disaster.

* Mr Squiggle pointing out that I self narrate. To make me more aware of this, everytime I self narrate he adds to it. Lady Smaggle – ‘I’m going to have a shower and then cook dinner!‘ Mr Squiggle – ‘Lady chirped happily as she ran downstairs to the bathroom‘.

* The weather. Summer. Sucks. Balls.

* Not being able to sleep because… Summer. Sucks. Balls. It’s like being incased in lava sleeping next to Mr Smaggle. His body temperature is totally whack.

* Getting a fabulous recipe from my friend only to lose it 5 seconds after I left the house.

* Having to use the toilet immediately after my boss. It’s not that she’s gross or anything it’s just really awkward.

What about you angel face? Anything to share?

Love Lady Smaggle

p.s Don’t forget if you want to ask me something now is the time to do it!

There’s some weird stuff going on in my blog stats and I’m thinking that Cleo is responsible. I have had like, a bajillion people find my site through typing the address in the search bar. This never happens. So I figure I have quite a few new readers on my hands who are probably wondering what the hell I’m on about.

So for one week, new and old readers can ask me ANY questions that you want and I’ll do a big old narcisstic Guide to Smaggle at the end of it all. Feel free to throw in some interesting questions… In fact I’m offering prizes! Oh yes I am.

THREE lucky question askers will go into the draw to win a Smaggle Pack – including Smaggle made jewels, treats and other delightful things! Oh my! Winners will be picked at random and anyone can enter. Flipping sweet.

I’ll also include a Meet the Smaggles section so you guys can put faces to the names in Smaggle Land.

Oh and if you ‘re too shy to comment or your question is a little embarrassing just email me…

lady(at)smagglestyle.com

Having said that I don’t really need you to ask me why it burns when you pee…

Let the question asking begin!

You have a week kittens…

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

Oh and while you’re at it add me as a friend on Facebook and follow me on Twitter…

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Why don’t you…

* Make little pom-pom shoe clips to jazz up your favourite heels? Clip them to the toes? The heels? The ankle straps? Just wear one? Or both but in different places?

* Drink green tea all day? From a dainty cup and saucer?

* Ditch all packaging in your kitchen? Replace unsighlty boxes and bags with mis-matched glass jars? For cereal? Rice? Lentils? Re-use condiment jars and bottles and have a pantry fit for a potion maker?

* Lie on the floor all afternoon and read an entire book?

* Get a make-over? Have a gorgeous beautician give you a brand new look? Try something new? Start wearing blush? Consider smoky eyeshadow? Bronzer? Berry hued lipstick?

* Stop thinking of cooking as a burden? Start making healthy and delicious dinners? Lentil curries? Herbed lamb skewers? Spicy vegetable noodles? Pop on an apron and pretend you’re Nigella Lawson?

* Eat only organic dark chocolate?

* Move your body? Take an adult ballet class? Pilates? Ballroom dancing? Be elegant?

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

Lady made the pages of Cleo again! Snap up a copy of January Cleo…

Flick to page 32 to see my necklace DIY… and ugly mug! 

And a super huge round of applause to the gorgeous Lisa from Canberra’s Got Style who got a full page spread on her home, her craftiness and her accessories label, Tango and James! 

A massive hello to any new readers! Please introduce yourself! Also massive thanks to Lisa… whose images I stole for this post. 

Also to anyone who has written a comment in the last two weeks I have just replied TO EVERY SINGLE ONE! Just in case you were thinking I was rude…

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

Put your hands up if you love Vera Wang?  Thought so. Here is a quick and easy way to copy cat her gorgeous black wrap heels.

What you need - 

* A pair of open toed black stilettos

* A metre of black felt 

Step One 

Measure and cut 2 metre long pieces of felt 8cm wide. Pull each piece so that they stretch a little. 

Step Two 

Place one piece under the sole of your shoe with one side longer than the other. Keep the short side vertical against the inside of your leg. 

Step Three

Take the longer piece and wrap it forward around the top your foot and then back over the heel of your shoes. 

Step Four

Take the remaining length of the long end and wrap it around your ankle, tucking the end in when you’ve finished. 

Not too shabby for a piece of felt and an old pair of heels! 

If you try this please send me photos or links! I love to see it when people try my DIYs! 

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

After the success of my first stocking necklace tutorial I have had several requests for more DIYs. After seeing the Degas exhibition in Canberra I was inspired by this painting to make a necklace that ties around the neck leaving a bow. 

Here is the finished piece…

First I cut the toes off a pair of old tights and cut down the sides to open them up. 

Then I drew a flower template on cardboard and traced the shape on my stocking material. I then cut out all the shapes. I made 5 sets of 5 flowers but you can do more or less if you like. 

Step 1 – Take a metre of ribbon and find the centre. fold each side upwards to form a square-ish shape. Glue with fabric glue and leave to dry.

Step 2  - Take 5 of your cut outs and lay them roughly on top of each other. Sew them together through the centre of each flower. You can be pretty messy with this step because it gives the flowers more volume. Arrange the flowers on your ribbon as shown.

Step 3  - Sew each flower to the ribbon and sew a crystal or bead in the centre of each flower. You may need to put a few extra stitches in and around the flowers to make them sit flat when you’re wearing your piece. All done! 

Happy crafting! 

I’m still new to the DIY thang’ so please leave feedback! 

Love you guys…

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

It’s the end of the weekend and I’m utterly exhausted. The weekend was spent spoiling the shit out of Mr Smaggle for his birthday. I also slept for an obscene amount of time. 

* Hammer pants from DFO in Melbourne

* Singlet top from Country Road in Melbourne

* Cardigan from Valley Girl in Canberra

* Earrings from Bijoux in Canberra

* Shoes Doc Martens from DFO in Melbourne

* Singlet by Metalicus 

* Brooch Smaggle Made (It’s a black chip board square with a diamante ‘MJ’ design on it. I’m going to wear it for thirty days to mourn for my beloved Michael Jackson who I’ve been listening to non-stop for the past few days.)

This evening I’m going for a chilly jog around the lake, cooking an old fashioned meat and veg dinner for Mr Smaggle and getting ready for a busy week. 

What are you up to my love?

Love Lady Smaggle

P.S The winner of the armwarmer competition will be announced tomorrow! Good luck! 

Sorry kittens, for the ridiculous absence and horrifying lack of outfit shots. I’m so crazy busy and rarely near my computer but I’m going to try to be a better Smaggle. I promise! 

This weekend was BRILLIANT! I spent Friday night at a gallery drinking free wine and mingling with this incredible Russian woman who was a witch but was wearing head to toe Issey Miyaki. I would like to be her when I grow up. Yes I would. Then I spent the evening at an asian karaoke bar flirting my arse of with a transgender (self proclaimed) ‘man with a clam’. Mr Smaggle was rather amused. I also ate McDonald’s for the first time in like 4 years. It was magnificent. 

Saturday night was spent having a delicious girly sleepover with Roomy Smaggle at one of our friend’s houses and my days were spent tearing my hair out over making jewelled rings for an exhibition opening in Canberra while simultaneously watching 90210 season six. The rings are modelled above by the gorgeous Roomy Smaggle. 

I’m off to teach winter themed art to my special kids today. Sigh! 

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx

In a few weeks I’m heading back to Canberra to visit my nearest and dearest. I’ve got my tickets booked and an airport chauffeur organised at both ends. The only thing still plaguing me is packing and believe me, I never used to have this problem. I would just fill the biggest suitcase I owned with everything I could possibly need and I’d check in the bag at the airport. I would then spend hours waiting at the other end trying to get to my bag while being knocked in the head by other women’s beef-headed boyfriends and worrying that with every second I spent waiting it was costing Mr Smaggle an extra $20 in parking. Until I made a decision that changed my life. I don’t check luggage anymore. I only take a small carry on. I can hear you screaming ‘But you’re Lady Smaggle! You should have the biggest suitcase IN THE WORLD!!!’. Not so my little poppets. Let me share with you a few packing secrets that I’ve discovered…

1. Roll your clothes. I know that every grandma and backpacker you have ever met has told you to do this but if you haven’t tried it yet you’re an idiot. Like those dickheads who refuse to watch Titanic. It is a serious space saver. 

2. Completely plan your outfit for each day. Actually try it on and make sure you have everything you need. Doing this eliminates the ‘just in case’ syndrome that causes women to pack too small jeans that they haven’t worn in years ‘just in case’ they need them. 

3. Be frugal with shoes. I know that was a mean thing to say and I’m sorry but it’s true. Pick one pair of dressy shoes and one pair of casual shoes and make sure that they match every outfit that you’ve packed. It helps if they are the same colour. 

4. Choose a full set of accessories and make sure they match everything that you’ve packed. You really can cope with only a few bangles and one pair of earrings for four days. That statement wasn’t directed at my readers by the way. I’m using positive affirmations to convince myself that this is possible. 

5. Depending on where you are going you can plant a supply of basics at your location. If you regularly visit your parents, your sister, your best friend (or in my case, boyfriend) you can keep a few things that you need there. I have a second set of most of my toiletries at Mr Smaggle’s house. This not only saves room in my tiny carry on luggage but it also prevents me having an embarrassing argument with the burly man/woman at customs because he/she is trying to steal my hairspray. 

6. Look up the weather in advance. If you know you’re aiming for 30 degree heat, be a man and don’t pack a jacket. Honestly. The weather bureau is full of super intelligent people and they are rarely wrong about the weather. I’m a compulsive weather checker and as a result I’m rarely dressed inappropriately. 

7. Pack an evening bag in your bigger handbag. It fits easily and you’ll be so happy you did this when you have to go to an unexpected party and you don’t have to lug your massive slouchy shoulder bag with you. 

Happy packing pumpkins!

Love Lady Smaggle

xxx