Lily Pulitzer 1931-2013

Lily Pulitzer died yesterday. She was 81. Lily was a wealthy American who lived on the East Coast and became famous in the 1950s for her outrageously colourful frocks. After her old school friend Jackie Kennedy was photographed in one they went beserko.
You can read more about Lily here.
She eventually sold her company and Lily Pulitzer merchandise is still available. Vintage Lily Pulitzer frocks sell for a bomb. I think the Happiness Place in Paddington stocks new Lily Pulitzer bits and pieces?

This is Lily in her store in 1959. As the story goes, she ran a juice stand in her husband's orange grove. She designed the fabric so the juice didn't stain her dresses. I think this story sounds rather flawed. Why would a person who described having a budget as 'embarassing' have a juice stand? Anyway, whatever your motivation or inspiration, thanks Lily.

I love this photo of Lily with her two daughers.
Below is an original Lily Pulitzer advertisement.

Below are some of the newer Lily Pulitzer products with her trademark eye popping colour.

Excuse me. The shoes!

A Lily Pulitzer interior. You've got to love the palm trees. Very Florida.

This below is, I think, Lily Pulitzer inspired Prada, but correct me if I'm wrong. Please.

Is Don. Is Good.

Don is on his way back in season 6. Prepare yourselves!
You can read a teaser on the new episodes here.  Apparently Don is up to his old tricks and the season focuses on the women. That all sounds good to me.

Borrowed time

This absolute gem is also in Rockhampton. When I was little it was the posh-est restaurant in town. It sits on a prime position riverside, and once sold will most probably be demolished to make room for tres ordinaire high rise units. I think it deserves a moments silence.

You can read the full listing here.

Finger crossed, through some miracle, she manages to stay on her feet.

.....and then there was one

Look at these beautiful dahlias my friend gave me, and all I had to do was feed her little cat. They are from Bangalow, from a prize-winning dahlia grower. Magnifique!

Did you know that The New York Times recently ran an article called 36 Hours in Brisbane? You can read it here. Of course, as you'd expect, the goddam koala features. Call me heartless, but that unattractive, unintelligent looking animal gets more than its fair share of exposure. All they seem to do is laze around looking uninterested and occasionally peeing on a visiting dignitary. What about the dingo, the emu or even the common old kangaroo is a more impressive animal?
Speaking of animals, Eric the guinea rabbit (remember I rebranded them) passed away from an unknown cause on Tuesday morning, so now we're just left with the one. Unfortunately, our very sensitive Mim was the one who found him. Peaches, the cold fish, couldn't have cared less but cried anyway, mainly due to seeing her big sister so upset I think.
Have a look at this fabulous old building that's for sale for only $590,000!

Imagine what a magnificent home that could be. The only catch is it's in Rockhampton, but if you're still interested, you can find out more here. It was built in 1883 and it's huuuuuge.
Work on our downstairs is coming along nicely. The framing is almost done, then we get the plumber and electrician in to 'rough up', then we can line the walls, and it starts to get really exciting!
I'm off to enjoy the rest of my day, my last as a 40 year old as my sister kindly pointed out.
I'll leave you with a beautiful photo my friend Rachel took in Paris. She has just moved there to live for the next three years.

Au revoir!