1950's life on the Gold Coast

In case you havent heard the news - I am in love with my new job for Village Well in Melbourne....my workmates are such kindred spirits, the work dynamic and interesting, the group operates with integrity and ethics that make me feel extremely humbled to be there. Most recently, I have been putting together a time line of Gold Coast history ( you can imagine how much I am loving that ) and came across these adorable photographs on the Gold Coast City Council website....I simply had to share them with you, they are so wonderful....the architecture, the fashions, the culture, everything..... I love these images. As a child we would spend most July holidays on the Gold Coast enjoying the beach, the family oriented theme parks, and I have to say, the all you can eat buffet at Sizzlers restaurant! Great memories !! It was around the 40's and 50's that things began to develop on the Gold Coast as a holiday destination, and by my childhood in the 80's and 90's it had really hit its stride. More recently, the Wintersun festival was held in Coolangatta up until last year and it was terrific to head back to that region as an adult to enjoy once again the winter holiday atmosphere. So, grab a glimpse of the 50's on the Gold Coast - for some it will bring back memories, and for others it will provide fuel for inspiration - but either way, enjoy some 50's eye candy on the first day of the new year !

Great radio shows !!!

We all love music - I mean, you would need to have spent your life in a cave in Antarctica to have no appreciation for music ! Personally, I am a big fan of all sorts of music - classical, gypsy, folk, blues, traditional R & B, dixieland, barbershop, rock n roll, lounge, country, contemporary, surf, swing, jazz, and even some top 40 !!! Pretty much anything depending on the mood in which I find myself really !! But here at Alice Jean's, we focus on mid 20th century though, so with that in mind I thought I would share a couple of the best Aussie radio shows (available online too for anyone overseas) that specialise in mid century grooves !!

For lounge music fresh from Sydney......

Cocktail Nation

My very favourite mid century radio show of them all, in my almost very favourite genre too - Doo Wop !!!

Malt Shop Hop

Local and overseas 'new' rockabilly sounds......

Its a Gas

Authentic blues, soul, jazz & ska

Blue Juice

If you know of others in other rural or urban areas that have an online presence, please let me know - let's fill our days with some jiving sound waves !

Big Sandy and the Flyright Boys are coming....

If you havent already booked your ticket - better get in a do so pronto....they are selling like the proverbial !!!! Click on the picture for all the details of their March gig in Melbourne including how to book.......

Quote of the Month - December 2011

Some Christmas styled quotes for the festive season.........

.	The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

"When a man is wrapped up in himeself, he makes a pressty small package."

"We never repent of having eaten too little"

"Gods gifts put mans best dreams to shame"

"Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man."

Another great gig not to be missed - and at the Lowow too !!!

Mill Rose restaurant, cafe, gallery and quiltshop...adorable....

A week and a half ago I took a glorious early morning drive to the little township of Ballan, roughly one hour west of Melbourne towards Ballarat. Now, I had always pictured that neck of the woods as rather cold and bleak, so imagine my extreme surprise to find the quaintest little town, full of friendly forward thinking people. I was there with work and have never enjoyed myself more on a work sojourn ! We were invited to morning tea with a local couple of artisans who talked and shared and inspired me no end with their visions for community, and artistic life in general (not to mention their glorious alarm clock collection). And might I add, their self built home, reminiscent of European streets, was breathtaking.....have a look at these photographs and see if you are not captivated !!

Then later in the day after engaging a number of people in the streets in lively discussions, we had lunch at the de-lightful Mill Rose restaurant, gallery, cafe and quilt shop. I was in total heaven !! Everything was so very beautiful, the food sheer divinity, and the ambiance the stuff happy dreams are made of. If you sew, eat, garden, or decorate, then a weekend drive to Ballan is very much in order I must say.

And for further info about the Mill Rose Rooms, as well as the newly established Ballan farmers market (maybe you could tie in your day trip to make the most of both....) check out these brochures:

Natural beauty tips - and my plastic surgery.......

I love natural beauty remedies, and prefer them over chemicals and procedures where ever possible - after all, it is more 50's isnt it !! But I am not against plastic surgery. Dont get me wrong. If it helps you feel better about yourself, then more power to you. Who am I to talk anyhow, I have had plastic surgery myself, and at the ripe old age of 23 !!! I shiver now when I think about it really....... my boyfriend at the time asked me if there was anything about myself I would change if I could. I said that I had always felt my lips were a little on the thin side (overblown bee stung lips were the rage at the time). That week my boyfriend found a competition in a magazine to win a lip enhancement. Desperate to please him ( but upon reflection, deep down feeling somewhat hurt that he did not see me as beautiful just as I was) I entered the competition. Well, you guessed it, I 'won'. I had the surgery. A round tube of plastic inserted perminently. Me = Petrified. It is still there to this day. My boyfriend was wraped 2 weeks after the procedure when my lips looked 'like Meg Ryan' (where her lips were at their peak of fullness), but by the time a few more weeks had elapsed, my lips had actually returned pretty much to normal size, however now with that small roll of plastic inside them for life. I can feel it whenever I kiss. Secretly, I think I am glad that they dont look all that much different though - I want to be me (and loved for being that way too)  !!! As for the boyfriend.....well, the insert lasted longer than the relationship.

But yes, like I said, I have no problem with plastic surgery, so long as it is done for the esteem and personal value of the person going under the knife.

I have recently read a charming and somewhat amusing little book titled "The Mums book of glamour - how to be fabulous". Of course, I really didnt need to read it seeing as I am so fabulous already (!), but I decided to none the less. Filled with funny little tid bits, and ways to make your already hectic life all the more stressful by adding inumerable beauty routines into the daily grind, I did find a terrific section on facial muscle excersises - the sort that can be done while sitting in traffic (not on public transport however).

One of the things that is a telltale sign of aging is a slack jawline due to lack of skin elasticity and sedintary muscles that settle into old familiar daily grooves. But facial deffinition need not belong to the young, and you need not resort to drastic face cutting surgery either, as I have found over the past few weeks of practising these excersises. I can totally feel the work they are doing to my face - and it is mighty encouraging !!!

So my dear friends and readers, I wanted to share these wonderful little natural, no cosmetic prodcedure required, jaw and facial excersises to help you stave off the inevitable..... and may your natural beauty shine through and be treasured by your loved ones !

 

1. Just out your jaw, open your mouth wide and pull your bottom lip over your bottom teeth. Then move your jaw up and down - you'll look like a cartoon robot, but stick with it. repeat this ten times, twice a day - although preferably in the privacy of your own home.....

2. Sit in a relaxed position. Tilt your head upwards and purse your lips. Hold for five seconds and then relax. Repeat 10 times.

3. Start with your teeth together, and then open your jaw very slightly, Move your lower jaw slowly to one side, as far as it will go, and then return slowly to the center position. Repeat this 10 times and then work the other side.

4. Sit upright, facing forwards with your lips closed but relaxed. Pucker and pout your lips using your cheek muscles, hold the position for ten seconds, and then relax. Repeat this 10 times.

5. Best not to try this one while driving...... close your eyes and lift your eyebrows as high up as you can, as though very surprised. Hold the position for 10 seconds, and then relax. Repeat this 10 times.

Ahh - your done....look out world - here you come, and looking like the grand dame of amazing jawlines below to boot !