Aussie influence

We've just signed up to Netflix at home and the whole personalised profile thing has me very excited. Nashville and Orange is the New Black are top of the list - and I haven't even  got to the movies list yet!

I just love a night at the movies and have seen two chick flicks advertised in the last week that have me leaping off the couch and rushing to the box office.

And the best bit? The Australian influence in each!

xx

Glass slipper

I am so excited about this movie. 

I heart a Disney movie like noone's business and especially love their 'real life' adventures (not to take anything away from their animations though, of course).

Doesn't Cate Blanchett look amazing? Gorgeous costumes, hair and makeup. And Helena Bonham Carter looks like a fabulous Fairy Godmother. A bit quirky and whimsical, not the grandmotherly type that is depicted in the animation.

Did you know Kenneth Branagh is the director?

This is sure to be a hit - I need to borrow me a child to take along to the movies!

Portrait of a Lady

Princess Mary is my homegirl.

She has totally nailed it in this official portrait - for two main reasons:

A) She's wearing an Australian designer (hello Carla Zampatti, you can dress me any day); and

B) She's recycling and wearing a dress she wore in October 2013 (much like my other homegirl Duchess Kate)

She can do no wrong, this beauty.

Young Aussie girls, take note. This is who you should be looking up to. Not that Miley bird.

Read about the dress here.

Lamington love

How is it the first day of February already? Seriously!

I haven't even recovered from Christmas and New Years etc and already I've been to New Zealand and back and fallen behind in work . . . only one month into the new year!

Anyway, speaking of New Zealand, on the way home I sat next to a mother of two travelling on her own back to Melbourne from Wellington. She had a four month old and a two year old and they were already settled when I got to my seat. I could see the strained look on the mother's face and instantly thought of my friends Bree and Gemma who travel with their little munchkins on their own all the time.

So I smiled and introduced myself to the two year old and offered to help out during the flight. The mother described me as a "Godsend", I think I've racked up enough karma points to last me the year!

Anyway, part of the kids morning tea on the flight was a lamington but Ariel (the two year old) had never had one before. As luck would have it, her Mum had packed Possum Magic to read during the flight so we got stuck into the picture book and discovered all sorts of yummy Aussie treats (they were kiwis but now living in Melbourne).

The timing was perfect as Australia Day closely followed so I got into the spirit and whipped up a batch of Donna Hay's cheats lamingtons. No, I didn't make my own sponge, but if it's good enough for Donna, it's good enough for me.

I took them to long weekend drinks with my friends Lill and Shuggie at the Pop Up Patch veggie garden in Federation Square. A gorgeous afternoon in the sun with vodka lime and sodas - and sexy straws. Shuggie brought Toobs and Burger Rings and a delicious beer and Lill supplied Prosecco. I was well and truly tickled by the time I stumbled home.

I love following my instagram feed over the weekend and seeing how all my friends and family were celebrating Australia Day. There were lots of pavs and lamingtons and lashings of Vegemite. I spent the public holiday at the Hanging Rock Races which felt very Aussie with kangaroos jumping past the track.

And now here we are at February. I hope it's a good month for you all.

xx

lamingtons

• 1 store-bought sponge cake or 1 quantity basic sponge cake, see recipe
• 3 cups (480g) icing (confectioner's) sugar
• ¾ cup (75g) cocoa powder
• ⅓ cup (80ml) boiling water
• 75g butter, melted
• dessicated coconut, to coat

Make 1 quantity basic sponge cake in an 18cm-square cake tin and cool on a wire rack. Cut into 6cm squares. Sift together the icing sugar and cocoa. Mix with the boiling water and melted butter. Using 2 forks to hold the sponge squares, dip in the chocolate icing and roll in desiccated coconut. Allow to set on a wire rack. Makes 9.

Recipe from here

Tim Tam time

Good on you Qantas.

You've been kicking some big goals with your marketing efforts of late.

And this Tim Tam effort is just a perfect little touch on Australia Day.

And even though I've been demoted to Bronze Frequent Flyer from Silver recently (I'm not bitter, I'm really not), I still think you're ace.

Keep playing the patriotic card, it's speaking to me.

Salad session

Happy Boxing Kangaroo Day! It's like the day after Christmas, you know, Boxing Day. But it's the day after Australia Day. With an Aussie twist. Clever, hey!?

What did you do for your celebrations? I ticked something off my Victorian Bucket List and headed to the Hanging Rock Races. It was cold, but beautiful. A really nice day out - just wish I'd worn warmer clothing. 

I was starving when I got home and for once, could peer into a fridge full of groceries and take my pick of what I felt like for dinner. It's a rarity to have a well compiled fridge with meals planned for the week.

One of these meal plans included Pete Evans' chicken and avo salad that I saw in the recent Gourmet Traveller (thank you Optus for my three month free subscription!).

It was so easy to whip up and was enjoyed by all. I have sent the recipe off to a few friends already with strict instructions that they must try it. Immediately. But think it's only fair I share the love wider. So yummy. And healthy, I think?

Ingredients2½ tbsppine nuts1ripe but firm avocado, diced500 gmwhite or Savoy cabbage, thinly shredded300 gmleftover roast chicken, shredded60 ml (¼ cup)extra-virgin olive oil (optional)60 ml (¼ cup)lemon juiceSmallhandful soft herbs, such as tarragon, flat-leaf parsley and chervil, coarsely torn (I used coriander)Method

• 01
• Preheat oven to 170C and roast pine nuts on a baking tray, shaking tray occasionally, until golden (4-6 minutes). Set aside to cool.

• 02
• Mash the avocado to a creamy yet slightly chunky texture in a bowl, add cabbage, roast chicken, olive oil, lemon juice, herbs and pine nuts, toss to evenly dress salad with avocado, season to taste, transfer to a platter and serve.

Hunting for Hunters

Friends, travellers, wine lovers, romantics.

I'm off to the Hunter Valley with the two loveliest of gals and I'm in need of some accommodation recommendations. I'm flying blind here, people!

It's for two nights (Friday and Saturday) in the second week of November. 

Any hot tips? Restaurant musts, winery loves?

But most importantly, where should we stay!?

Hit me up!

xx

40 and fabulous

Do you have some brands you just feel like you've grown up with? They're part of the furniture, your oldest, most loved, classic pieces have their names written all over them?

Well, for me, it has to be Country Road.

Remember the craze at school when everyone had to have a crew neck CR windcheater? And you went the men's style, rather than the women's, it had a band around the bottom and was a much better fit (I had both, I loved them so much!). It started with the good ol' navy and then I added olive green and cream to my collection. I think there was also a mustard and a maroon in the range? Maybe a sky blue?

Or what about CR beach towels? Having a pool in our backyard at home, we've been through our fair share of towels over the years. They are huge, and very absorobent!

And quilt covers. And coffee mugs (a staple for birthday presents for a while there - complete with box of Haigh's hot chocolate and packet of marshmallows).

It was also where I got my first ever job! I was Christmas Gift Wrapper at the Metro store at the end of 2000. I went on to have a casual sales role there into my first year at uni. The discount was great! And the training was a great platform for future jobs.

So I get the warm fuzzies when I see that they're celebrating 40 years this year. I'm not quite of the same vintage, but close, and I just loved this celebration of their 'look and feel' over the past four decades.

I have to admit though - and I don't think I'd be alone - I prefer their playfulness of the 90s compared to their modern approach in the noughties. What do you think?

Research

There's something quite romantic about holidaying in Winter. Big glasses of red wine in front of the open fire, and getting all rugged up in scarves and boots. 

I'm heading away to Bowral with two of my dearest school friends next weekend. Last year we headed to Daylesford because we couldn't make each other's 30th birthdays, and we had so much fun that we committed to a little girls weekend every year.

Lill and I are driving to Canberra where we'll spend the night with Kate before driving up to Bowral the next day. We're staying at Peppers Manor House, divine!

So much indulgence to be had . . . but where do we start?

Does anyone have any suggestions? Please do share!

High on my list is brunch at Biota and a visit to the Bradman Museum, but any other must-sees while we're adventuring in the Southern Highlands?

Please email me with any suggestions!

xx

AFL done good

Sport is such an important cultural force that can unite people from all over.

It has its haters, but you can't deny the role that sport plays in bridging gaps and building teams. 

I love that sport is a language in itself - everyone can speak it. Whether it's dressing up for a day at the races (and not even seeing a horse run!) or sipping Pimms with your friends at on the banks of the Thames during the Boat Race - you could be standing next to someone who doesn't speak a word of English, yet still communicate with them through sport.

I LOVE what the AFL has done with its multicultural round ads for this year.

They're a bit tongue in cheek, they're fun and they're warm. I applaud the light hearted nature in which the topic of multiculturalism has been tackled. So often we tiptoe around these issues and try to make political statements out of them, but at the end of the day, it's just a game of footy.

Check them out below . . .

SA Grateful

I might have caved to social pressures and packed my bags for the big lights of Melbourne, but I will always be a fiercely proud South Aussie at heart.

So much makes this SA Great (oh how I wish they'd kept that brand instead of Advantage SA) and food and wine tops the list for me.

Menz is a firm favourite of mine and I especially love their commitment to the community and local charities. So I was especially chuffed to see them up in lights amongst some serious national heavy hitters today when I received my regular marketing industry newsletter this afternoon.

Menz has created what is believed to be Australia's largest mural made entirely of lollies.

Read about it here.

Doesn't it look great!? I'm yet to identify all the iconic SA landmarks hidden throughout the thousands of sweets but so far have spotted the Malls Balls . . . anyone have any other ideas?!

Then this morning, my parochial fires were burning for Kochie's South Australian food segment on Sunrise. Farmers Union Iced Coffee, Haighs, Maggie Beer, Penfolds wine . . . so so so good!

Check it out here . . .

Magical Mary

Love them. Adore them. Smitten with then. The Danish Royal Family, that is.

Especially 'our Mary'.

Ten years of marriage and look at them now. Those children are beyond gorgeous. And I love that they're part Aussie!

I'm a Marketing girl. I have brown hair. I'm practically Mary, let's be honest. So why are the boys I speak to in pubs total jerks and not Danish Princes?! What is your secret Mary? 

Did you see their other anniversary portraits? Stunning.

I want what she's having!

Wombat stew

 

Ob. Sessed.

 

Love these kids.

 

And I'm also loving Sunrise's Sophie Hull. Isn't she gorgeous? She's following the Royals around for Channel 7 and has so much style and spunk herself. And am I the only one that thinks she looks a little like the Duchess? I think she's great. Love me some 'real' TV personalities - she and Sam Armytage rock my news world*.

 

 

*Cue the haters. I know Sunrise is no ABC 24 hour news, but I like it. It's entertaining and light hearted and I still know more about current affairs than everyone in my office each morning. And while I'm at it, I also watch The Project. So there.

 

I love a sunburnt country

 

How good is this campaign!?

 

#aussiepride

A love letter

I'm in a relationship, in fact, we might even be going steady.

I have a serious crush on Melbourne. Not in a 'you're better than Adelaide' way or anything. I'm loyal 'til the end. But in a Mr Right Now kind of way. It's where I'm supposed to be.

It helps that some of my very best friends live over here and my housemates are sweet and my location is second to none. There's also the great restaurants, coffee and yes, I even love the public transport system (gasp!).  

My room has awesome views of the city and a gorgeous high peaked ceiling, I can walk to the Tan and I've just discovered Leo's (thanks Sue!).

The markets are a feast for the senses and Zumbo has just opened up around the corner. And then there's Burch & Purchese - I'm without words. I have pho at my fingertips and Mexican just down the street. I've only filled up my car four times in six months - and that included a drive to Dean's Marsh!

It's not all rosy though. Work has been tough (I'll leave that post for a rainy day) and they use plastic bags over here like they're going out of fashion (yay for SA's stance on plastic bags). They don't have a bottle recycling program and my heart hurts every time I put 10c worth of glass or plastic in the recycling bins. Those poor Boy Scouts!

And I can get lonely. I derive so much happiness from bouncing off other people but my 'other people' have their own 'other people' and I miss my Mum. And my Dad. And my brother and sister in law. And I desperately miss my niece and nephew who are growing up way too fast. And I miss my grandparents and being 15 mins away from everything and everyone.

But this city still has me wrapped around its little finger.

There's the small issue of the terrible weather and serious hayfever conditions, and most of my above mentioned friends are grown ups with life partners and kids which isn't ideal for a 30 year old single gal's social life. But otherwise things are pretty good.

The shops are open til really late and they have ham on their parmies - sorry parmas - as a standard. Flowers are cheap and brunch is served all day.

I wouldn't say it's love - yet - but I've got a serious case of lust for this city. Enough to get me smiling again.

I've had a bit of a blog block recently, but I'm slowly trying to find my mojo again. If anyone still tunes in, I'd love to hear from you. Especially if you're in Melbourne - I could do with a tour guide, shopping  director and a glass of vino or two. Oh, and a job (long story - but I'm serious!!)

What do you love about Melbourne? Help me compile a 'must do' list so I can  see it through your eyes.

I'll be back again soon. Slowly. I'm finding my way xx

Back in the game

I'm back . . . and so is Ja'mie.

Whoop whoop!

xx

Loud and proud

I am one of Radelaide's biggest fans. Ask any of my friends. I love the place. I've even been called SA Kate on numerous occasions. Give me the opportunity to talk about my home town and I'll jump on it.

So I had to smile when I saw this article that someone had tweeted.

Oh, the memories! I've added my two bobs in for each . . .

Thirty ways you know you're a South Australian

LET'S be honest - being South Australian is awesome. So we compiled a few of the ties that bind us all together. You know you're a South Aussie when ...

1. You know what bung fritz is.

My Dad was a meat wholesaler when I was growing up so we had all the meat we needed at home. But on the odd occasion we went to the butcher at Mitcham, Bruce would cut me a fat slice and I'd love it! Fresh white bread with fritz and sauce for lunch. Delish!

2. The first question you ask someone you just met is, 'what school did you go to?'

Guilty, as charged. BUT I feel like I know someone at every single school and it is a good way to make a connection!

3. You say " heaps good " and people don't look at you strangely.

I use it all the time!

4. You've prank-called Bob Francis.

Nope, never

5. You used to go on dates to Skyshow .

I was too young for dates but did head there with the family in the early days where we snacked on Golden North Giant Twins.

6. You've nearly been killed at the Britannia Roundabout.

I avoid it at all costs and if I do have to go through it, will only approach from Fullarton Road to go straight across towards the Parade. I am my Mother's daughter!

7. You've ridden the Rundle Mall pigs.

Yep, normally some time past midnight with a yiros in hand.

8. You hate the only other AFL team in the state so much that you actually cheer for Collingwood when they play your rival.

Bloody oath! I hate the Crows with a passion!

9. You claim any celebrity who has ever visited here as a South Australian.

And make a connection to them somehow. Like, did you know that Mel Gibson bought my Granny and Grandpa's place in Unley? True fact!

10. You went to bed when Fat Cat told you to.

Bless him!

11. You flip your beer before opening it.

Yes, we love a Coopers but don't turn it into a posh Sydney bar trick. It's just what you do.

12. You feel nostalgic about the demise of the double-cut roll.

Mum used to bring the top half of her roll home from work sometimes, I just thought it was so cool.

13. You enjoy whingeing about the fact that we're a state of whingers.

Yes! I had to leave to ensure I stopped whingeing and made a change!

14. You submit Xavier Minniecon as a "spotted" for the Sunday Mail's gossip column.

Where has he gone?

15. You're inexplicably proud of homegrown inventions people in other places would never think to be proud of. Such as Hills Hoists ...

I love ours in the back corner of the garden. And it's so sweet that my niece now loves to swing on it too. And you've all heard of Goon of Fortune!

... Victa mowers …

I didn't know they were ours to claim!

... and even one-way freeways.

Surely NOONE is proud of that!

16. You hate Victorians for no real reason.

Kick a Vic was something I adopted very early on as a child - especially with the likes of Sam Newman on our case. I'm not so outspoken now that I'm surrounded by them!

17. You think crying over spilt milk is entirely valid - if that milk is Farmers Union Iced Coffee.

Yes! What is this Big M business?

18. You think boat , not spinach , when you hear the word 'Popeye'.

Some of my best childhood memories during school holidays with my cousins involve Popeye and visits to the zoo.

19. You still can't believe Dazzeland closed down.

What is happening to the MYER Centre these days?

20. You feel strangely possessive about the precise position of the Mall's Balls.

The best meeting spot in Rundle Mall!

21. You NEVER EVER let another driver merge into your lane ahead of you. Ever.

Oh no, I'm all for zip merging. I had no idea we were known for this!

22. You know that ' pie floater ' isn't a dirty euphemism.

Have only had one in my life - out the front of the Casino

23. You call the Murray River the River Murray because you think it sounds posh(er).

Ha! Yes, I do!

24. You're secretly proud when tourists ask you what part of England you're from.

I sure am! We're a well spoken bunch

25. You've gotten third-degree sunburn on the Hill at Adelaide Oval.

As much as this is an Adelaide institution, I prefer the comforts of the Members Area thanks! Unless I'm on the lookout for cute English boys on tour . . .

26. You pretend to know the difference between a tempranillo, a grenache and a petit verdot.

As long as it's South Australian, I just assume it's a winner!

27. You felt guilty and rushed out to buy a jar of Spring Gully pickles a few months ago.

I totally get behind the locals!

28. You think Vili is a culinary god.

Yes! And on this note, he lives in the house where Mum and Dad had their wedding reception. So Adelaide to know something like this!

29. Your family used go on holiday at the same spot on the river or coast each year.

Port Elliot Caravan Park every year for 14 years. Best memories of my childhood.

30. You have no problem in stealing something from Victorians, since they already stole something from us.

Yep, I even love stealing their jobs!

And yes, we haven't mentioned Woodies, Haigh's, Bickford's, Stobie poles, FruChocs or Kitchener buns. So over to you - you know you're South Australian when ...

Here are a few of my faves . . .

• You ask for an early minute from work and your boss stares at you blankly. Seriously, Victorians don't know what that means! My South Australian friend from work and I couldn't believe it!
• You ask for a pint and get a glass of beer that's actually not technically a pint in size. Why don't we do it by the book? It's like buying a metre of ribbon and only getting 75cm!
• Someone from the motherland calls you a convict and you hold up the Free Settler card!

Any other true South Aussie-isms?

See the full story on AdelaideNow here

King of Melbourne

The Melbourne adventure continues . . . 

with a bit of song and dance . . .

Do yourselves a favour, people and go and see King Kong.

It's ah-mazing. Totally mind blowing and spectacular. The special effects are like nothing I've ever seen.

And the dancing and singing and sets are second to none. The Skull Island scenes are spooky and eery and wonderful.

And I had no idea what the story was about, but it all made sense. It was fabulous.

It's a little bit Baz Luhrmann - and it all makes sense as the dude behind the music is Marius de Vries,the BAFTA-winning composer and arranger of Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet.

Run, don't walk!

I don't want to give too much away, but this song is gorgeous. It has stuck with me. So beautiful.

Seriously, don't miss out!

Hop to it here

Looking for some Wonder

So yes, I've been AWOL.

There's a lot going on. And I'm overwhelmed and not my usual self.

But I'll find my groove again soon.

And this show gives reason to smile.

Happiness over on Ten . . . I'm excited.

Good on you, Australian TV!

xx