Christmas in colour

Call me kitch, but I do love it when the colour of food reflects the season.

So my Christmas go-to at the moment is a light and fresh coleslaw - I want to call it Asian inspired, but is probably is more Mexican in flavour?

Great with a roast chook (which is exactly what I served it with at Carols by Candlelight with my friend Nadia this week) or of course, with pulled pork in a soft bun.

Delish!

Recipe from here

Coleslaw

• ¼white cabbage, finely sliced
• 1 bunch(about 300 g/11 oz) radishes, finely sliced
• 4spring onions, finely sliced
• 2green apples, finely sliced
• 1 handfulcoriander leaves
• 1 handfulmint leaves
• 2limes, juiced
• olive oil
• sea salt and freshly ground pepper
• Make the coleslaw by combining the cabbage, radish, spring onion and apple. Tear the herbs over it and squeeze in the lime juice, along with a small drizzle of oil. Season to taste.

Adore-able

One thing I miss about living in my own home, is the freedom to decorate a shared space in your own taste.

I took great pride in my coffee table stack in my living room in the Rads, but my share house in Melbourne doesn't have a coffee table, nor the support of my housemates to extend my penchant for the colour pink beyond my bedroom.

So I was over the moon when my gorgeous friend Kelly (mother of the world's cutest Godson, Max) gave me the new Adore coffee table book for my birthday. It's pink and it's gold and it's fabulous.

And it's the perfect addition to my little sanctuary upstairs at home.

My friend Melissa and I went along to the launch at West Elm on Chapel Street (eeek, papped above!) and it was lovely to meet Loni . . . and enjoy a glass of bubbles or two. Kelly flew over that weekend and we joined Loni on the Adore Home Shopping Tour around Melbourne.

What a brilliant day we had discovering hidden gems in my adopted home. I was all over the shopping haunts in Radelaide, but out of the loop in Melbourne, so this was the perfect way to get my bearings and find new faves.

Lunch was also delicious!

The highlight for me was Montebello Emporium in Camberwell. Tina, you will love it here! I picked up a gorgeous box of Liberty notecards and they have heaps of Kate Spade stationery in stock.

It was a huge day of shopping and I've made lots of notes of where I want to go back - present shopping will be so much easier now that I've found my feet!

Check out the loot I picked up - and most of it was from the generous goody bags from Adore and Safari Living.

V spoilt.

Thanks for making it an Adore-able birthday, Kelly!

xx

A vision

Feel like treating your eyes to a visionary feast?

Well, head to Black & Spiro's freshly launched website.

www.blackandspiro.com.au

It's beyond beautiful.

I've come in to work to tidy up a few things before I leave and I've been here for nearly an hour and still haven't opened any emails or actioned any items on my list. I've been distracted. But do you blame me?

Check it out now and read about it on Anna's blog here.

A not so Miserables New Years Eve

Warm weather . . . lovely friends . . . hot BBQ . . . courtyard dining . . . DIY Pimms bar . . . decadent desserts . . . striped straws . . . gorgeous South Australian sparkling . . . new outdoor chair covers . . . lots of yellow . . . and Hugh.

(As in Hugh Jackman. The one and only)

Yes, this sums up my beautiful New Years Eve celebrations.

I had a delish NYE dinner with a gorgeous friend and then we headed to the movies to see Les Miserables.

It's three times as fabulous as everyone says it is.

Go see it. Now.

Happiest of happy new years cheer to my friends - new and old. Here's to an even bigger and better 2013 full of love, laughter and lots of colour.

xoxoxo

PS. Here's the recipe for that delicious, colourful salad. It was a winner and has kept me going all week! Thanks to Love and Lemons via Camille Styles


Sweet potato and pomegranate salad

salad components:
2 medium sweet potatoes, cubed, plus olive oil, salt & pepper for roasting
2 cups baby salad greens (baby kale, spinach, arugula, etc.)
1/3 cup pomegranate seeds
1/3 cup crumbled feta
1/4 cup toasted pistachios, toasted & chopped
handful of chopped cilantro
2-3 chopped scallions, white and green parts

dressing:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 clove minced garlic
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar or white wine vinegar
salt & pepper, to taste

Roast the sweet potatoes: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Chop the sweet potato into bite sized cubes. Drizzle with some olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast in the oven for 20-30 minutes, or until they start to edges start to turn a darker brown.
Make the dressing: Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, salt & pepper. Taste & adjust. Set aside.
Assemble all salad ingredients, toss lightly in the dressing.

Pop goes the weasel

Have you heard?

It's so exciting!

Brown Button Trading is going 'real life'!

The gorgeous Kimberlee is holding a Pop Up Shop in a few weeks' time, perfect lead up to Christmas.

She'll have all the BBT goodies we know and love, pre-wrapped to make your life easier.

And did I mention there'll be bubbles!? Perfect.

If you're in the Adelaide hood, drop Kimbo an email and she'll send you through all the deets so you can head along.

A touch of pink

Look at these pretties that Miss Hunter from navy & orange found over at dustjacket attic.

I love what she had to say about needing a girly bachelorette pad before moving in with a boyfriend.

I've definitely got the girly down pat! Just need to work on the boy . . .

View from the floor

Getting fit isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I hurt my hip at bootcamp a month ago and have been at the physio ever since. She's given me stretches to do but I've been slack with my homework and with another appointment tomorrow, I was trying to fit in one last mega stretch in front of the telly tonight.

I'd gone for a run on the treadmill (again, in front of the telly) earlier this evening and by the time I got down to my floorwork, I found it incredibly hard to get back up. 

Ouch. I hurt.

Anyway, I looked up from the floor to see what I could use to help pull myself up with (what a wuss I am!) and was pleasantly surprised by all the colour in the room. A bit overcome, would probably be a better description, but it certainly looks like a happy space (if not incredibly messy!).

View from the floor. Yep, they're my stretches at the bottom of the photo. Fat lot of good they're doing.

I thought I'd take you through some of my favourite things in my living room . . . and then you can help me 'edit' it (in the words of Emma). It's all a bit cluttered and crazy at the moment - I've been collecting random bits and bobs since I bought my little shoe box four years ago but have failed to 'curate' a collection and instead, put things where I see a space.

Hmm, I have a lot to learn!

Now to some of the things I love . . .

The For Like Ever poster up the back on the right

I know, I know, I still have to find a home for it! And did you notice the little mini version on the tray? My workmates gave it to me in the interim while we waited to get my big one framed. So sweet x

My Kate Spade dessert plates 

In the pink box under the nail polishes. Gemmal, you spoil me x

. . . and Kate Spade tea cup and saucer

Feel like such a lady drinking from this, thanks Bree x

My cushion collection

It's slowly coming together, love love love my three newest additions care of Lill and Peach. Floral is really working for me at the moment

Fresh flowers

Bluebells from Granny's garden and a pretty bunch from a boy I went on a date with last weekend (I know, who said chivalry was dead?)

My Notting Hill print

Aaahhhh, London. Need I say any more?

My dupion silk lampshade

Stunning cranberry, navy and jade green check . . . gosh I need to paint that base!

My vintage vase

First purchase from Anna Spiro's Absolutely Beautiful Things!

Bentwood chair

This has reminded me I need to put it back in the kitchen! It's one of four but we ran out of red spray paint and is the only one still in its natural state. Thanks for your bargain hunting skills JB!

Inspirational quotes

Love the framed hot pink one from Ad "There is nothing like a dream to create the future"

Coffee table books

Some people collect shoes but I go for coffee table books - cookbooks are my weakness followed by French inspired beauties

And that's just to name a few.

So . . . it's a mess, but a work in progress.

And a place I love to call home!

Any suggestions!?

It's coming!

Yay for motivation. I've found some.

In a very colourful little package.

Who's with me for The Colour Run!?

And the best bit? Radelaide is the first to kick off the calendar Down Under.

ADELAIDE: SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012

Heading home to dust off the treadmill tonight (in front of the Olympics - what could be more inspiring?!)

Stay tuned here . . .

Ring my bluebellgray

This cushion business is really throwing me in to a spin.

Emma from White & Wander sent through some wonderful suggestions for my hot pink and white couches and I'm slowly chipping away and buying one cushion every pay packet or so. I was also very lucky to receive some gorgeous additions to my collection for my birthday.

Emma's palm inspired find was so 'en vogue' this month - literally! One of the first stories in the latest issue of Vogue Living raved about how 'in' tropical inspired palms are!

She is a clever little cookie, that one!

I really have to love each and every cushion I buy and am concerned I'm being a bit too 'formula' and there's not enough contrast in my collection. Everything's quite bold and graphic and I should really pay more attention to the stories Em's created. Give credit to mis-matched perfection, experiment with clashing. Be brave!

But the Taurean in me is stubborn and when I'm on to something, I stick with it!

Anyway, I've stumbled across Bluebellgray who has shaken things up a bit. Softer edges, muted palettes, dreamy florals. Quite different to the spots and stripes I've been attracted to.

Aren't they divine?

And lucky me . . . I get paid tomorrow!

Back to school

Little bit excited about this tomorrow night!

Heading to a colour class at The School of Real Living with a dear school friend who now lives in Canberra.

Think I might focus on my bathroom. Or bedroom. Maybe my kitchen. Hmm, my living room needs a lot of work.

Oh gosh, where do I start?

I am concerned my true obsession with the colour pink is going to shine through, so I need to start collating my 'inspiration' pics from my Dream House board on Pinterest into some 'not so pink' examples.

Navy, yes, lots of navy. And gold. We like gold.

Wish me luck x

Watershed

Stumbled across a new artist today thanks to Camille Styles and her pins.

Love this work by Katie Rodgers of Paperfashion. Her watercolours are beautiful.

What a great idea to do iPhone covers. And I love that you can buy her original paintings as well as prints. Art is something I really want to start investing in. Wish I had more walls to decorate. I've failed miserably with my cluster wall and am still yet to hang my For Like Ever print. 

Anyone good with a hammer and nail?!

Colourful start to the week

Some exciting news!

You might remember this post a few months back. I have had a few comments on it since - seems I'm not the only one inspired by 'colourful' exercise!

A recent visitor to my blog has just alerted me to this . . . .

Yay! The Colour Run is coming to Australia!

I have my doubts that little old Adelaide will be on the list, but am more than happy to travel to Melbourne to take part in the fun. And great that I'm alcohol free this month so can get a kick start on my training!

Who'll be joining me?

Follow all the latest news here

Colour it up

Photo courtesy Mink Studio

How I love a wedding! Especially when it's a celebration of a very special union between the best of friends. We had a gorgeous weekend at the beach a few months back - affectionately known as the "Festivus" - in honour of S&B, but I'm not going to go into details of the wedding - I just couldn't do it justice.

I do, however, want to talk about the bold use of pattern in the groomsmen's shirts. I LOVE colour and pattern and things slightly left of centre and applaud the boys' use of checked shirts with their suits.

Gorgeous navy and white check. It was stunning. Beats a boring old white shirt any day of the week.

Why don't boys experiment with colour more?

Love the pink and white bowties in the bridal party below. 

Show me some colour!

Oh hello, Kayce Hughes. You heard my cries!

Look at this gorgeous collection of ties and bowties she's just released. They are droolworthy. I LOVE them! If only I had a boy to dress up - the pink and geometric one matches the shirt dress I bought from Kayce Hughes last year. How sweet! Maybe a bit OTT . . . but cute all the same. ADORE the florals!

Not many Australian boys could pull off this look, but how I wish they'd experiment with colour a bit more and take a leaf out of the American book of Prep!

Maid to perfection

Love love love!

This hits all the right notes for me (five times a bridesmaid . . . and never one day a bride!)

And have you seen the his & her collection.

So sweet!

Shop the look here

Dream a little dream

I have never woken up more excited on a Sunday morning than today.

Daylight savings meant an extra hour to play with . . . and the new edition of Adore Home mag in my inbox! I was actually up in the 7 o'clock hour . . . last time that happened on a Sunday, I think I was getting home, not getting up (and it would've been in my uni years!) so put the bonus hour to good use in bed with my laptop (and a half finished bag of CCs from Friday night!)

Gorgeous issue of Adore Home. Loved every page and clicked through to so many online shops and stockists. Really appreciate the fact they cater for all budgets.

So, I've found my new dream home. Naomi Stein's home in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia (doesn't the suburb just sound dreamy?) is a gorgeous blend of colour and glam. It's bold and eclectic and I love it.

Cool bedhead and a lovely, light bedroom. The bedside table is divine.

How cool does she make a boring Ikea Expedit bookcase look!?

Goooooood cluster wall, and love that shade of hot pink desk. 

And now I know where this image comes from - I think I've pinned it before - love so much about it. The coffee table vignette, the cushions, the sofa, the navy frame on the doors. Perfection!

So it's been a luverly start to Sunday. And to make things even better, we've got a sweet little lunch for Miss Brown's birthday today at the SFC. I'm doing dips so had better drag myself out of bed soon and get started in the kitchen!

Happy Sunday Funday to you all!

Pics from Design*Sponge

This little rabbit

I have a new crush.

His name is Max, and he's gorgeous beyond words.

And did I mention Max is my Godson?!

Yep, I became a Godmother on Sunday.

Me. Single, crazy, loves a champagne, Port supporter ME!

I think Max's Dad (and his Pop Peter!) questioned their choice in me when I turned up to lunch - late - with neon orange fingernails and hot pink lips. Oh, and polkadots.

I did come armed with Greek Salad for 40 people though, and gave a killer Christening present (thanks to the talents of White and Wander), so all was forgiven!

The day started with a two hour drive to Maitland on the Yorke Peninsula where we had the most stunning lunch at Max's Dad's family homestead.

Max's Mum Kelly is known for her themes and she did not disappoint! (Think back to Humpty Dumpty, Little Bird and Rainbow)

Hello bunny!

Kelly's Mum Carole and sister Abby produced this ah-mazing cake. Watch out Planet Cake, here come the Walker girls!

After a gorgeous lunch of yiros and Greek salad, and the most heavenly desserts thanks to fellow Godparent Rick, we trooped off to the family church for the formalities.

And of course, a perfectly 'blue' afternoon tea in the church hall.

Such a gorgeous day with a gorgeous family (who I have inherited from one of my besties Bree who moved to Hobart this year).

All I can say, is good luck Max. You'll need it with me as 'spiritual guide'!

(Be afraid, Mark, be very afraid!)