What’s Hot + What’s Not
Another Wednesday, another rundown of what’s hot and what’s not at Chez McCluskey-Robbo. This week I’m trying something new. If you feel like doing your own What’s Hot + What’s Not, add your post’s url to the little widget at the bottom of this post so that we can all pop by and see what’s hot and what isn’t at your place. I hope it works!
What’s HOT
Being home again: After two weeks in the country it’s nice to be back in the ‘burbs. I spent a lot of time while we were away thinking about ways we could possibly move to an old farmhouse in the country, but coming home to our cosy house and a garden green and running rampant from the rain, I find myself feeling pleased and settled.
Holiday reading: Phil and I are off to Byron Bay next week for our long-planned *escape from reality* and these are the three books (above) I am packing… well… we are only going for four nights so I might have to choose just one, but I am excited about all three. The Time Traveler’s Wife was my favourite book from last year’s reading so Audrey Niffenegger’s new one
Light evenings: Summer’s a coming, and the time change is already making the evenings seem longer. The hour missing from the morning is a little harder to come to terms with.
One of my favourite clients ever has a gift/stationery company with a new online shop selling fabulous products – how CUTE are these pop-up activity place mats!?
Photos of homes on Dos Family and The Selby. A little like online Paumes books: lovely inspiration from the homes of real and interesting people.
Permablitz – “Eating the Suburbs, Once Backyard at a Time”: What a great idea – sign up to take part in overhauling backyards into permaculture paradises and after you have helped out in at least two other working-bees, you are eligible for a permablitz at your house. So good – Why have a water-sucking lawn when you can produce your own organic food?
Kirsty’s X Marks the Spot tutorial – and I just bought the kit.
What’s NOT
A virus from the country : Amelia, Lily and I are all sick sick sick. It’s a nasty virus which has meant we have had 3am trips to the country hospital to treat croup, a trip to the doctor to get antibiotics for ear infections and many sleepless nights. While I love little children, the one thing I am looking forward to about them growing a little older is the idea that we might not spend the months of March to October fighting off every single virus that comes our way.
Related: giving eye drops to a three year old. NOT hot at all. Takes two of us to do it and it’s awful.
Gourmet and Cookie Magazines closing down: Oh so sad! Am I choosing the worst time in recent history to be considering getting my freelance illustration business up and going again?
STUFF: We’ve got too much of it. Coming home to a house full of messy rooms; cheap plastic toys strewn about the place, piles of washing needing folding and sorting, and a studio full of out-of-control rubbish waiting to be turned into projects was a little depressing. While we were away the kids seemed to do just fine with very limited amounts of play-stuff. A box of old blocks, cotton reels and wooden pegs went a long way. I have been sulking around the house, crunching lost and forgotten items underfoot, saying “how much of this *crap* do we really need?”. Anyway, it’s got me thinking and I can feel one of those massive purge projects coming on. That might be followed by one of my evangelical “no spend” projects which may (or may not) coincide with Christmas. If it does coincide, that can only be a good thing, as I would say that 90% of the lost and forgotten and broken junk lying around comes from the stockings of Christmas Past.
What’s hot and not at your place?
Responses
7th October 2009 at 1:15 pm
I hear you on the clutter – we don’t have all that much really ’cause we have a small house, but every little toy piece counts, doesn’t it?
Sorry you’re not feeling well, same with the girls.
What’s hot here? I’m gearing up for #nanowrimo (are you going to do it?) and I’m putting together an Aus blog writing anthology project. Very exciting 
7th October 2009 at 1:20 pm
I just need to pass on the tip that made eye drops MUCH easier for us – her eyes don’t need to be open! Lie her down flat and put the drops in the inner corner of her eye, then get her to open her eyes and blink before she sits up – the drops will get where they need to go.
On the other hand, if you already know about this and can’t get this far without a fight, I’m so so sorry.
7th October 2009 at 1:34 pm
I am in mourning over gourmet… how could they do this?!?!?
on a happier note I will look forward to your review of Audrey Niffenenger’s new book!
7th October 2009 at 2:27 pm
Those placemats sure are hot, and I was ready to buy… until I noticed we set our table differently than the illustrated cutlery (we do spoons inside!)
Hope you’re all feeling better soon. Croup is the pits.
7th October 2009 at 4:02 pm
I’m in for hot + not hext week!
I love the “hot” pop up placemats…just so gorgeous.
7th October 2009 at 4:03 pm
I am with you on the STUFF. I listed hundreds of things on Craigslist two days ago and it has been a non-stop parade of people coming by to pick through my virtual garage sale items. It’s good though, things are leaving and I’ve cash in my pocket, and I’m not going to spend it either. It’s going into an emergency fund savings account… at least until the Nova Natural catalog arrives. Hee.
7th October 2009 at 7:58 pm
Yep, I was going to give you the trick of laying poor little one down, asking them to close their eyes, dropping the drops in the corner and them asking them to blink before sitting back up…… best trick ever.
Sometimes a small treat is a good incentive to get them to blink 
7th October 2009 at 8:16 pm
I love Kirsty’s ‘X marks the spot’ book mark too, I want to make one that says ” you fell asleep here!’
I’ve joined in Hot n Not this week I enjoy reading them great!
7th October 2009 at 8:27 pm
have a loverely time in BB – I’m going up there the the week after you!
7th October 2009 at 8:45 pm
I read a Fraction of the Whole earlier in the year. Interesting novel, although I think I liked the first half better than the last half
7th October 2009 at 9:03 pm
We have the same clutter problem. I’m trying to think of moving house as a great opportunity to declutter. There has to be one upside to moving.
7th October 2009 at 9:40 pm
Getting rid of stuff IS hot- we are moving so I packed up all my kids’ stuff but for a few toys- blocks, playsilks, legos. They play happily and don’t even ask about the old junky stuff. Makes it easier to clean too. I am sorely tempted to no unpack all the other things once we move.
It’s fall here in Kentucky so cool mornings and changing leaves are hot too.
7th October 2009 at 10:01 pm
I am LOVING What’s Hot and What’s Not!
So much fun.
Serious clutter problem here too… 
7th October 2009 at 11:41 pm
I love this hot and not and I have finally got it together to join in this week! Oh, and thanks for the Dos Family reference – I LOVE that house! And I want to redecorate immediately!! x
8th October 2009 at 1:44 am
Books are way up on my What’s Hot list these days. I love it when I happen upon a good run of books. I get edgy without one!
This was my first time joining in. Thanks for the opportunity!
8th October 2009 at 2:37 am
thanks for the wednesday post inspiration!
xx
8th October 2009 at 3:05 am
I’m lamenting the loss of Gourmet and STUFF too.
Hope you are all on the mend!
8th October 2009 at 4:45 am
Thanks for the inspiration…I’m trying to do this each Wednesday! It is a lot of fun!
8th October 2009 at 5:24 am
I know all about the clutter… I’m currently living at my parents place and let me just say, I own too many books to fit into one childhood bedroom! Couldn’t possibly get rid of them though.
I’m really loving this hot & not thing – equal doses of optimism and justified complaining! Lovely idea – I’ve added my link to the lot.
8th October 2009 at 6:31 am
OOOO!!!!
I ordered ‘Her Fearful Symmetry’ a couple of months ago. I didn’t realise it was already out..
I’ll be getting something in the post soon. Yippee!
8th October 2009 at 10:38 am
Oh no! I love Cookie, and was about to post about it on my blog. Nuts!
8th October 2009 at 1:30 pm
I can definitely relate to your woes with eyedrops and a small child. We recently had to administer them to our 2.5 year old for about a week and it was painful. For us. Funnily enough, the thing that helped us the most, was letting her watch on the iPhone the video for TMBG’s “Electric Car”, which I found here at Loobylu!
8th October 2009 at 2:21 pm
This is great, lots to think about and link to, thanks. I will have to remember to jot down all the things I find that are Hot and Not, cos when I was writing mine, I suddenly forget all the zillions of things that I love or complain about on a daily basis. Will try that for next week.
8th October 2009 at 8:22 pm
Are you sure you are not talking about MY house?? It all sounds way too familiar!
9th October 2009 at 7:34 am
I actually just read a review of “Her Fearful Symmetry”, and it certainly sounds interesting. When you finish, please write a little tidbit or so on whether it’s worth picking up! Same with the “Juliet, Naked” book as well. I read a review on that one, too!
I might have to hop on the Hot/Not Wednesday bandwagon next week, as I missed it this week. I always feel a bit more organized when there is a method to thinking about my week!
9th October 2009 at 8:28 am
I hear you about the stuff. My sewing room is full to the brim, I have to wedge in there and once I’m in I don’t have room to sew anyway.
9th October 2009 at 10:39 am
If you find the secret to cutting the “stuff”, let me know. Here’s a recent entry of mine on the same subject…
http://unicornbutterflies.blogspot.com/2009/09/simpler-times-ahead.html
Really enjoying your blog.
9th October 2009 at 5:09 pm
Yes unfortunately it is true, Lisa Lang’s novel Utopian Man is yet to be published. But not long now.
Until then you can read an extract here:
http://www.allenandunwin.com/_uploads/documents/AboutAandU/Utopian_Man_Lisa_Lang_extract.pdf
Cheers.
9th October 2009 at 9:34 pm
you always have the best links! and i’m with you on the clutter issue. count me in as a ‘hot + not’ listee…
10th October 2009 at 4:27 am
so i missed wednesday, but got it up today during my lunch hour. I like this Thank you for the inspiration
10th October 2009 at 12:06 pm
I loved looking at everyone’s sites and phots and art. So luscious! Thanks.
11th October 2009 at 10:39 pm
Sorry to hear you are all sick!! The book suggestions look great – I’m almost done with what I’m reading & was looking for something new:)
14th October 2009 at 8:59 pm
Oh, your post felt like I was reading my own thoughts. We just got back from holidays (to Melbourne!) and I’ve been looking around the house with an equal mix of being glad to be back and being appalled at all the excess stuff that clutters everything up.
18th October 2009 at 8:20 am
I got a shock when I scrolled down and saw the books as that is exactly what is in my bookcase and beside my bed! We read ‘A Fraction’ a few months ago for bookclub, very mixed reviews! I bought Nick Hornby last week, even though I have too many books, and we are doing ‘Her Fearful Symmetry’ this month at book club, loving it so far. ‘A Time Travellers Wife’ is hard to beat though! Good taste in books.
18th October 2009 at 8:41 am
Oh Claire, I think you would LOVE a book called The Good Mayor. I bought it at the same time as I bought A Fraction of the Whole and was completely taken with it.
22nd October 2009 at 8:19 am
Pimms and lemonade are a big HOT for me in summer – I used to live by the canal in London, and relax by a canalside pub with a jug (yes a whole fruit-filled jug) of Pimms and lemonade.
7th October 2009 at 12:30 pm
I agree that too much stuff is not hot. We have been trying to declutter, and it’s taking a while, but we are slowly getting there. It feels so much better.