Some like it hot

My word it's been hot.

And I like it hot.

Swims at the beach, iceblocks, crisp white wine, outdoor BBQs, summer dresses. It's all good.

But endless days of the high thirties is a tad extreme.

The cool change has arrived and I worry we've seen the last of Summer.

Autumn, be kind to me x

Let's have a ball

When's the last time you had fun for fun's sake? Not for a wedding, or 21st or engagement or Christening. Just for fun!? Well, Emma and I packed up the car and headed to the country on the weekend for just that - some serious fun. 

It's amazing what some fresh air will do for your soul!

Packing was difficult as we were heading to a black tie ball in a wine shed. Fun, yes, but cold, yes!!!

I settled on my favourite bridesmaid dress (thanks Jo Jo) with neon pink accessories (thanks Kimbo!)

The new yellow jacket also made an appearance for the daytime activities.

And see my pretty new pillowcases from Bowerbird Bazaar. I know, they're pink. So?

We had a great drive over to the Yorke Peninsula with the Dixie Chicks providing the perfect soundtrack. When in Rome . . .

First stop was in with our old blogger friend, Letitia Linke of The White Shed.

And look what we found when searching for her farm?

A big white bow, gorge!

Letitia took Em and me for a little farm tour and turned on the country charm like you wouldn't believe.

Her house is every bit as beautiful in real life as it is in pictures. Even better. I was blown away by how perfect it was, not a thing out of place. 

We enjoyed a gorgeous afternoon tea with her raspberry friands and my lemon drizzle cake (that was a disaster - would've helped if I had measuring implements in my kitchen and didn't have to guess quantities!). Really good coffee too.

The weather was just perfect!

Love love loving my new neon yellow jacket. Felt very patriotic!

And here it is, THE White Shed. Yes, the one and only!

Teesh's hubby and gorgeous little boys were at the bike track but called in at home to say hi before we left. They are DARLINGS! And apparently we made quite the impression, ha!

With sore bellies from laughing and eating too much, Emma and I trotted off to beautify ourselves for the ball, and leave Teesh to get ready for the big night also.

We had so much fun, dancing, drinking and making new friends.

And there was a photo booth. Awesome.

All smiles on the bus ride home . . .

And then we woke up to this stunning view of Tiddy Widdy Beach Sunday morning.

Hard life, hey?

Totally spoilt by Jo and Greg who kicked out their kids to put us up for the night and then treated us to a yummy hot breakfast (hangover, what hangover!?).

We drove back to the city completely rejuvenated . . . and contemplating full time life in the country. If only we'd met our Farmers . . .

Wish You Were Here

Last night I saw a movie that really touched me.

Not in a reach for the tissues kind of way, but in a 'that could happen to me' kind of way.

Wish You Were Here is an amazing Australian movie - they call it a 'psychological drama' but I think that makes it sound scary.

I didn't know anything about it, hadn't seen the trailer, didn't read the review. I knew Joel Edgerton was in it (I'm a Secret Life of Us fan from waaaay back so this excited me to no end!) as was one of SA's fave exports Teresa Palmer, but that's it.

And I was impressed. The acting was really good and the storyline was so unexpected. I think it was the fact that I have holidayed in South-East Asia and so have most of my friends (and the fact that my brother, sister-in-law and niece are in Bali at the moment . . . ) that they story seemed so real.

It made me realise how flippant Australian tourists are, so carefree and easy going and how any of my friends could've been characters in this story. That scares the life out of me.

Any mothers out there, please make your children see this movie before they leave for a South-East Asian adventure.

(Gosh, don't I sound old and boring?!?)

Anyone else, I can't say it's an enjoyable movie, but it's clever and there's some gorgeous scenery and the kids in it are super cute! And above all else, support the local film industry.

Pics from here

Hermes-ing

1. Shoe bags

2. Hmm, which to choose?!

3. Polka dot happy!

4. Hermes Managing Director Karin Upton Baker

5. Sandcastle

6. Say cheese!

Hermes is at it again.

Their third annual beach party was last Wednesday and photos are slowly leaking out from the who's who of Australia's A-List.

Features of the night include a 'shoecierge' who took your shoes and stored them in gorgeous little Hermes shoe bags; a giant 'H' swingset; and a mystical mirrored entrance which made for some fun pics (see April Rose Pengilly for her take on the mirrors)

Oh what I'd do for an invite!

Pics here: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

A day on the high seas

What better way to sign off your Christmas holidays than with a gorgeous day on the high seas?

The fabulous Sally and Tim played Captain and Crew for Kimberlee and myself last week with a fun-filled afternoon on their boat, Salambao. 

Oh, and don't forget Able Seadog Wally. Good boy.

We ate and drank ourselves silly with yummy sandwiches (yes of course, the classic chicken sandwich was on the menu, plus Christmas ham and wholegrain mustard, and smoked salmon with cucumber and cream cheese) as well as cheese and dips and wine spritzers and bellinis and zucchini burgers.

Best. Day. Of Summer.

Oh, and I wore my seasick bracelets. And felt fine. Yay for me!

Cliffhanger

So this is where I'd rather be today.

Work schmerk.

Via pinterest

Hermes on the Beach

Look what I just found over at Gild & Grace.

Hermes does it again - isn't it fabulous?

"Take a year's worth of planning, a $250,000 budget, oversize bracelets, a custom-made tent and 450 A-listers, and you have the 2011 Hermes on the Beach party. Seagulls not invited"

What I'd do with that kind of event budget!

Here's a little clip from The Australian

 

Mustang Sally

Nothing signals the start of Summer (okay I'm a few months early yet!) like a beautiful sunny day on the water.

We set off this morning for a nautical adventure with Timbo, Sally, Emma and of course Wally the 'Seadog'.

It was perfect boating conditions for the Mustang with blue skies and bright sun - ideal for enjoying a few ciders and nibbles on the deck before picking up a 'stowaway' Leeanne at Holdfast Shores.

Also managed to find Kristie and Andy in the Semaphore waters, who were taking their boating adventures a bit more seriously . . . the 5am start doesn't appeal to me but their return was fair reward with a few blue swimmer crabs in their esky.

We anchored off Glenelg and I had my first 'dip' of the season - it was only my toes but slowly does it! Also spotted the famous Port River dolphins and waved to the sightseers at the Navy Open Day.

Perfect day out, I could get used to this lifestyle!!!

Bill at his best

I've shared my love for Bill Granger way back when, and now that I've got Foxtel IQ at my disposal at my housesitting house, I'm free to indulge in all things Bill whenever I like!

Bill's Tasty Weekends is a gorgeous little show that is dear to my heart as it follows the Granger family's adventures in the UK.

Last week, he took his girls (don't you just love their names - Edie, Ines and Bunny) to the Isle of Wight where they stayed in the most gorgeous little cottage - The Lighthouse.

Makes me long for warmish beers, pasties and salty sea spray.

Going to the chapel

I love a wedding like fresh bread loves real butter; like a curry craves some rice; or a Pimms makes friends with cucumber.

So it was inevitable that the romantic in me would give way to temptation and finally accept Kristie and Andy's invitation to join them in Palm Cove to celebrate their wedding. This weekend.

Yep, I had a few too many drinks at the pub on Friday and booked the trip on my iPhone. Nothing like a spontaneous decision to make you feel alive!

So it's been a crazy week of fake tans, liquid diets and searching for the perfect dress. This body ain't ready for beach weather just yet!

Just wish me luck in the bouquet toss!

xo

Beachside bliss

Yes, that is a wedding going on down there - see the bride in white? Port Willunga (no, not Mexico!) is one of the most beautiful spots for a wedding. I'm not much of a fan of beach weddings, but this one gets my vote - the old jetty is a stunning setting and makes for gorgeous photos.

Back to the real world (and enough spying from the clifftops!), Lill and her parents invited me down to have lunch with them at the Star of Greece on the weekend - an old little fish and chip shop that happens to be one of my all time faves.

Check out the plastic chairs and the hole in the wall servery that still dishes out the best fish and chips in town.

Doesn't look like much from the outside (I could hear our American friends' minds ticking over at the sight of this tin shed!) but inside, it's the most eclectic, inspiring and mood lifiting fit out you could imagine.

Mis-matched chairs, corrugated iron walls, vintage posters, antique bottles . . . anything goes. They used to use old jam jars as glasses, but have upgraded to Ikea lately which was a bit of a shame. I loved that nothing used to match!

And just check out this view! Diners are welcome to enjoy a pre-dinner drink on the deck out the back, overlooking the stunning stretch of Port Willunga beach.

Gorgeous interior, it's just stunning. Great for an intimate, casual and unique wedding.

As for the food? Out of this world! D & G opted for the King George Whiting and chips - famous in these parts. I just LOVE the test tube bottle of salad dressing - great idea.

My choice - poached snapper, confit prawns, vegetables a la Grecque and carrot puree. Yum.

Zucchini flower tart for Mariana - awesome big wooden slab to serve it on.

We got two side salads - greek salad and this delightful little combination of peaches, witlof, fennel and goats curd. I loved it - and I'm not usually an aniseed kind of girl. Great blend of flavours and textures.

This is the only shot of dessert I got - we inhaled them all too quickly! Completely blown away by what was on offer, dear Donna kindly ordered one of each! We had 'Violet Crumble' - an amazing concoction of home made honeycomb, chocolate mousse and some kind of delicious mascarpone kind of mousse thing.

Then there was ginger cake with orange and carrot that was a bit boring, a slice of summer pudding with fresh berries, coulis and vanilla yoghurt icecream and to top it off, burnt orange gelati with a gorgeous fruit salad and delicious custard - oh, and that dodgy shaped thing? Meringue.

Yep, we didn't do too badly, did we?

Thanks to Donny and Geoff for a lovely, lovely lunch. Absolute pleasure to meet Dan and Mariana and hope to one day head over and visit them in Seattle.

And happy happy birthday to the gorgeous Miss L. May 2010 be everything you dreamed for xo