My Second North Sydney Masters Christmas in July Party

There's clearly a trend towards funky, funny and very weird gifts in the Kris Kringle gift exchange at the North Sydney Master's Christmas in July party.

Check out last year's blog when the gifts included moustaches and nipple warmers.

Well this year, gifts included a sexy Mrs. Claus outfit, a banana holder so your banana doesn't get crushed in the lunchbox (although when wrapped it looked like something else) and budgie smugglers.

While I learned early on that "budgie smugglers" are what I would refer to as Speedos, I never really knew why they were called that. But as you'll here in this Flip Video it's an Aussie term to describe what looks like a bloke trying to smuggle a bugie (bird) through border security down his shorts. For those of you who are frequent readers of my blog and my frustrations and obsession with Border Security (both the TV show and the process) you'll appreciate it when I say that there's no way Australia Border Security would ever let this through but it is funny that Aussie's have come up with a term alluding to the fact it might!

Here's a photo of budgies:

Sydney Winter Festival

This past week I've received Flip Videos of my nephew Kai's graduation from pre-school, news that my niece Kalea's heading to summer camp and photos of my niece Keilani's first time in the swimming pool - all clearly signs that Summer's upon us...

Yet here in Sydney it's "Winter" and the Sydney Winter Festival has just kicked off and for the first time in year's Sydney's shipped snow in to create this ice skating rink in the middle of the city right next to St. Mary's Church.

On July 1, I joined Nina's birthday celebration at the ice skating rink. I didn't skate as by the time I arrived the session was sold out, so just "had" to drink two warm mugs of gluwein while I watched them skate.



And to my family and friends in Chicago and New York/New Jersey, you'll appreciate this. This week on June 30, it was all over the news that Sydney experienced its coldest winter morning in 60 years - read the article in the Sydney Morning Herald.

And just how cold was it? It was a brisk 4.3 degrees Centigrade which translates to 40 degrees Fahrenheit - rough life, right? You wouldn't believe how many Sydney-siders are bundled up with heavy coats and scarves! And I can think of at least 5 friends who have taken long vacations overseas to avoid the "Sydney Winter". I'd hate to imagine how they'd fare in one cold Chicago winter!

At the Movies with SATC2, Champagne and Friends - What could be Better!

If you're a fan of Sex and the City as I am then even though the story plot was weak, the fashion, friendship and fun factor more than made up for this second installment of the Sex and the City movie.

Emma organised our seating in the Premiere seating at the movies (Sat. June 26) which meant we all sat together in these comfy seats and enjoyed our bottles of champagne and popcorn.

Kogarah Mayoral Ball - Venetian style!

It was an elegant affair with Venetian masks and glamorous dresses. And I was privileged and thrilled to be invited by Vicky, from VMware, who was the co-chair of the city of Kogarah's Mayoral Ball to join her table at the Venetian themed black tie event.

The city of Kogarah (pronounced kuh-ger-ah, not cougar-ah as I had unintentionally been mis-pronouncing it most of the night until corrected) is located southwest of the Sydney Airport but the ball was held in the city at the Four Seasons Hotel on Saturday, June 19.

Not having been to a Mayoral Ball before, I sought Vicky's advice on my attire and learned to my surprise that she also runs her a company that rents out designer dresses called Frock Therapy. After trying on a few dresses we decided that the Alex Perry one-shoulder short black dress looked and fit the best. Alex Perry is known as Australia's most glamorous designer and Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Eva Longoria and Natalie Portman have all been "Perry Girls". If you check out his Website and click on the Summer 2009 Ready-to-wear season you'll see I wore the Romy - Black One Shouldered Puff-sleeve Mini.

The evening kicked off with champagne at Matt's place where Emma and I posed for a few photos and took a few Flip Videos.



Then off we were to the ball! At the end of this Flip Video you'll see that after Emma and I went up onto the dance floor everyone else joined us in a "New York, New York" can-can. We proved ourselves to be quite the party girls :)



Thank you Emma for these photos! I hope you told Pat (out with his "man cold") how much fun we had kicking up a storm on the dance floor!














After the ball concluded the evening continued at The Ivy where we enjoyed the rest of the evening at the Pool Bar.