If you missed part one of this tale, read WVW: What Julia Wore. It is a prerequisite.

Now on to the luck of The Julia Dress.

The dress arrived midweek. I donned it on Friday, bright and early to take my car to the dealership for some TLC. The dress is comfy, and I must admit there was already a spring in my step because it was cute on and it held such a good vibe for me. To the dealership I embarked. Upon arrival, I was told my car should be ready within 45 minutes. Cool. I’ll wait. My dealership has wi-fi so I worked from there, no problem.

Four hours and four decafs later, I’m still sitting in the customer lounge. But I’m in a good mood. ‘Cause I didn’t eat a single one of the freebie Krispy Kreme doughnuts, I’m wearing my Julia dress, and all of you, my lovelies, are showing some serious love for my Friend Friday: Blogger Jealousy post, here and on Twitter. So I’m not a total dork. I’m a happy girl.

The service guy comes out and tells me they’ve completed the repair, but some residual knocks and lights are happening. They really need to keep the car longer, but why don’t I take a loaner, and no worries if I can’t get it back today. Yeah, that’s good for me, I think, since I haven’t eaten brekky or lunch, and I’m recalling the last loaner I had, and it was good. And all this repairing is transpiring while under warranty—huge bonus—this is not cutting into my shoe budget. I pack up my laptop and toddle over to the loaner guy and give him my license.

“You got anything fun?” I ask.

“No, just 328s.”

“Aw, ’cause last time I got a Z and it was so fun,” I reply.

“Well, one just came in,” he says. “But I don’t know what condition it’s in.”

“Hey, a little dirt never hurt me.” (And it never hurts to ask, I think.)

Loaner guy exits. He comes back, nods, escorts me out.

Yeah, BABY! This is my loaner. On a  sunny Friday afternoon. (And remember the no worries if I can’t get it back?) Oh, you can bet your sweet ass I can’t get it back tonight!

== Queen B, how's that for a prop? ==

So off I go, top dropped. Breaking the no sun rule a little bit. I get back home and discover three packages have arrived in the mail for me. Goodies…it looks like a mess, but I’m in bliss. My BCBG bling has arrived. My leopard bag from Topshop has arrived. There’s a new Nordys catalog. And a package from another far-flung bloggerista has arrived—phat tracks on three CDs and the cutest little nail decals—thank you kindly, Ms. Brit Greek.

Cards from Ms. Brit and Julia (thanks, ladies)—plus all my goodies!

Ooh Wee, the tracks from Ms. Brit are hot! Perfect timing, too. I throw my hair up and sunnies on, and pump the music with the top down. The night ends with a wedge salad (my fave), smoked salmon, a round of drinks on the house at a favorite local haunt, then a Kir Royale, and the world’s best (gourmet) banana cream pie. Wished I could have kept this little fun machine for one more day, but after driving it and discovering my car actually spanks it in speed (I’m a girl who likes to drive faaaaasst), well, that was the cherry on my banana cream pie.

I don’t know what I did to deserve a day like that, but God, Julia, Ms. Brit, and BMW—thank you from the bottom of my heart.

There is something (besides fighting) the Aussies do extraordinarily well. So well, in fact, it could be hazardous to my health (maybe).

Wine. Vino. Vin. 

Surprisingly, this stunning but often inhospitable country seems to be the Holy Grail of wine production. The Aussies’ cups runneth over, and let me tell you I’m always hovering, stem in hand, to catch the spill. Cause honey, the wine here (as I’ve mentioned before) is both cheap and brilliant. California, move over. Even if I never love Oz like I love home, I think the wine has forever won me over.

Now that the weather here in Sydney is crisp and I’m pulling out my wool and boots, the oenophile in me is craving luscious reds to complement heavier winter meals. And without central ducting in my older, refurbished building, it serves a second purpose: to warm me up on these cold winter nights. Truth be told, Sydney is never as cold as back home in the States. But when one is used to a year-round indoor temperature of 70-71 degrees, it is hard to adjust to the cold and heat you feel indoors here. 

That said, let me tell you what has been keeping yours truly warm of late: Rosemount Pinot Noir, 2007 vintage. That’s Rosemount as in Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. As in damn. Good. WINE! 

Now I didn’t become a fan because this is the same vineyard that sponsors one of the biggest fashion events of Australia. That’s just a happy coincidence that makes me love this label even more. I accidentally discovered this Pinot Noir because it was on sale at the local bottle-o. Imagine my surprise when I opened my $9.99 bottle and tasted exactly what this description touts:

An aroma of exotic spices and plums with subtle oak. The palate is fresh and lively with red apples and cherry fruits set against crisp acidity and well-structured tannins. The lingering aftertaste of wood smoke, cherries and plums are hallmarks of this classically elegant red wine variety.

Source:  gwine.com

This is a clear, smooth, almost too-easy-to-drink wine. Excellent with beef and lamb, excellent alone. And better yet, it can be obtained online and outside of Australia. Probably not for $9.99 a bottle in the U.S., but hey, after all the miles I’ve flown and the occasional pang of longing for my U.S. life, I’ve got to have something redeeming, don’t I?

We’re in lean times, there is no doubt about that. But the one good thing about all this recession-doom-and-gloom is there are some amazing bargains to be found. Right now you can actually enjoy fine dining for the same cost—in the U.S., that is—as trying to reproduce it (generally unsuccessfully) on your own.

Certainly, there are pros and cons to the big chain restaurants that are the cornerstone of American dining. No, they’re not quaint and no, you’re not helping the small business owner. But what the big chains, particularly the steakhouses, do fantastically well is provide a consistently elegant, gourmet meal. There’s no silly little artistic display on a plate—you get a real slab of beef, real potatoes, real butter. I love the dark wood paneled dining rooms, the impeccable service, the gi-normous martinis (no one does martinis like America); and for two hours or so, no matter who you are or where you come from, you are treated like royalty. It’s absolutely brilliant.

That said, beef isn’t the only thing they’re slicing up in chainland. Prices are crazy cheap. Three-course menus at two of my favorite haunts are under $40 USD! That is just sick!

Ruth’s Chris Prix Fixe Menu ($39.99 USD)

Del Frisco’s Prix Fixe Menu ($35.95 USD)

Yeah, yeah, I know it’s “one day to change” in America, and there is a landmark inauguration on the horizon—but as an expat, I’ll tell you what’s more important: procuring things that make it feel like home, sweet home. So while Obama is heavy on everyone’s minds, all I’ve been able to think about is American mayonnaise. Dude, it’s the little things, I tell ya.

Anyway, I’m happy to report that I found some halfway decent mayonnaise here, praise be. There is a Kraft “creamy egg” variety that is very much like Hellman’s or Duke’s. You should have seen me in the grocery store today, scrupulously inspecting every jar. After sizing up the ingredients, color, and texture, I decided on this one. I’m so glad that it did not disappoint.

I’m also happy to report that I made that potato salad I was talking about and it was great. It’s still a far cry from Dad’s, but seeing as I can’t import him or his mad cooking skills, it will do. I loved it…let’s see what my Aussie family thinks, though my husband is not difficult to please.

OK, now that I’ve stuffed myself with mayo, it’s off to the gym. Cheers!

I’ve become acquainted with a new initialism down here in Oz, and I must admit that it makes my heart sing every time I see it: BYO.

A while ago I promised a blog on my newfound cheap-but-good-Prosecco. Rather than reinvent the wheel, see the Riondo Prosecco post on the Winecentric blog.

How do people blog every day? I’m a bit mystified by the time people have to devote to their blogs…I’ve been too busy enjoying this beautiful crisp weather to even think of spending one moment more than necessary in front of my computer. This is my time of year, and I feel alive. Too alive to park myself in front of my PC and think of what to write.

But, I’ve committed myself to at least checking in periodically, so here goes. What’s on my mind?

Movies
For starters, I’m telling everyone to go see The Departed. It’s a fantastic, suspenseful movie, the likes of which I haven’t seen in a long time. Scorcese nailed it, and the acting was absolutely superb—Nicholson—well, he’s been around all these years for a good reason: he’s got the chops. DiCaprio was sensational, and I think this is one of his best roles ever. And yes, it’s like three hours long, but it’s so good, you don’t even realize it. However, if the type of language and violence that generally accompany mob movies turns you off, you might want to skip it. But it would be your loss, for sure. I’m actually thinking of seeing it again.

The Prestige was somewhat entertaining. I was most impressed by the fact that Christian Bale managed a convincing less-than-proper English accent. This is another magician movie, but honestly, I thought The Illusionist was better—Edward Norton never disappoints, and the cinematography was exquisite.

Food & Drinks
When the weather changes, so does my wine palate, to a certain degree…out with the white, in with the red! I am loving the very affordable Firesteed Pinot Noir paired with good quality dark chocolate, or double chocolate cookies. De-lish. But for heaven’s sake, DON’T drink it bloody room temperature. That’s the biggest misnomer out there, that red wine is palatable at 72 degrees. Wine should be served at cellar temperature, which is about 60 to 65 degrees. For me, 50 to 60 degrees is probably best…always erring on the colder side.

And this is definitely not a winter salad, but ever since I had this salmon salad, I’m obsessed: grilled salmon over field greens, with goat cheese, pine nuts, and balsamic vinaigrette. God, it is mighty good. The goat cheese tempers the taste of the salmon, and vice versa. If you care for goat cheese, give it a whirl.

Haven’t had it in a while, but I’m really looking forward to Ruth’s Chris bread pudding with a tawny port. Probably for New Year’s Eve. My calorie-counting and trainer likely won’t allow it until that special occasion. But it will be so worth it.

Fashion & Beauty
As usual, there are a gazillion things I want to buy. Sweet gym clothes from Adidas, especially the Stella McCartney stuff. There’s a new Tom Ford Black Orchid fragrance coming out I’m dying to smell, since I love his remake of Lauder’s Youth Dew so much. I’m picking up some very handsome Cole Haan short boots this afternoon…finally found a pair I think I can successfully do with leggings or tights (and with Nike technology…what could be better?).