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

Holidaze

Nothing gets the year off to a good start like a holiday only two weeks back into work.

I've been back for eight days yet I'm flying off for a long weekend in Nelson, New Zealand tomorrow. I'm heading to a wedding of relatively new friends and can't wait to indulge in some holiday feasting. The wedding is at a winery, need I say any more?

Our holiday house has a spa on the rooftop so I've been madly scrubbing off remnants of old fake tans in readiness for a spray tonight, and if you follow me on instagram, you'll know I've been prepping for a bather-ready body with a week's worth of cabbage soup diet. I'll do a post on that next week.

I can't promise I'm "bather-ready" as such, but I have kicked the Christmas kgs to the curb at least. A darling friend shared some wise words with me yesterday that another gorge friend had bestowed on her: "you need to be body proud and just rock it"

So let's rock it friends. 

Bon voyage xx

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

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

Weekend wonders

I have two very dear friends coming to visit this weekend - I've been bridesmaid to them both and am so looking forward to sharing a bit of my Melbourne with them.

I am so so so excited about finally visiting one of my Melbourne 'musts' tomorrow. Aren't the pics above gorgeous?! They're from Mossgreen Tearooms where I'm having High Tea with my most recent bride Jourdanne (and my local loves Bree and Gemma) tomorrow afternoon.

But first, the fun kicks off with a city drink with Sam tonight - you might remember her from this wedding . . .

I'm still tossing up which bar to take her to - so much pressure when visitors are in town! The shortlist is Hihou, Von Haus, Ombra and Cumulus Up. 

Sounds like a whole lot of stuff yourself silly with food and drink, if you ask me! 

Just the way I like it xx

Rads

Flying home tomorrow peeps, can't wait!

So much to celebrate - my nephew's first birthday, one of my dearest friend's 31st birthdays and of course the Port v Bulldogs game at Adelaide Oval. So excited to catch some footy while I'm home, I've heard brilliant things about the ground.

There'll be lots of eating and drinking and cuddles with Dougall (the ferocious dog). 

Bring it xx

Get your shop on

I have finally uploaded my pics from New York and thought I should share with you - after all, you suffered through the countdown as I prepared for the holiday of a lifetime so it only seems fair to give you a sneak peek of what I got up to.

I am going to break down the pics into categories to try and give it some order. Looking through them all, I'm alarmed by how many are photos of food. Is someone a bit obsessed? Possibly.

So here I begin reliving the fun . . . and we kick off with a shopping theme. I'm just so annoyed I forgot my camera at Woodbury Common. Now that was something else!

1. C.Wonder at Columbus Circle. Gorgeous. Colour to die for. Gorgeous jewels and patterns and homewares. Bought myself some leopard print flatties and also a few goodies for some friends. 2. Fifth Avenue.  Hello lover. 3. Tiffany & Co. What's a visit to NYC without taking home a little blue box? 4. Kate Spade New York in Soho. My kind of heaven. Bought a beautiful classic black purse for my birthday, care of my very generous girlfriends. 5. Eataly. Food lovers paradise. I was like a kid in a candy store! A must if you're struggling to find a good coffee. 6. ABC Carpet & Home. Beautiful store, just wish we'd had time to stop for lunch at ABC Kitchen. 7. Bergdorf Goodman. A NY institution.

Not a bad effort considering we had my Dad with us who doesn't care for shopping as much as us gals!

Take off

I just booked my flight to Melbourne.

Like, the flight that will take me to my new home where I'll start my new job and find my new boyfriend and experience a new happiness.

Expectations high? Nah!

It still hasn't really set in, the fact I'm leaving the Rads. And my family. And my cute little shoe box of a house.

I've got so much on my mind - a crazy Easter at work, to start with.

Then finishing up my job, packing up my house, starting my new job, heading to New York, turning 30, throwing a shindig of a partay and then crossing the border for good to see what life throws at me.

Oh, and finding somewhere to live in Melbourne. That's not going to break the bank or break my heart.

All this within the next 8 weeks.

And breathe.

xxx

Little Road Racquet Society

I applaud creative types who don't just sit back and comment, but actually do something good with their time.

Here's cheers to those who put the Rad into Radelaide!

Enter the team behind the Little Road Racquet Society - a great new pop up outdoor theatre that's creating awesome vacay fun for holiday makers on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

"The Little Road Racquet Society presents 3 films over 3 nights with 4 different winemakers and pop up local food stalls on a lawn tennis court tucked away amongst the Vineyards of Whites Valley, between Aldinga and Willunga."

How cool!

I'm heading off tonight to watch Amelie with some friends who are staying down at the beach. It's the perfect halfway spot to meet and the weather should be gorgeous.

Strawberries and cream, anyone?

Long live the Queen

Oh the treasures you find in the back streets of Wellington's beaches.

Queen Sally's Diamond Deli in Lyall Bay had me at hello.

Everything about it was fun - from the friendly staff to the lolly jars and fresh colourful salads, it was perfect.

I wanted to pack it all up and bring it home with me!

Find out more about it here. It's a definite 'must-see' when in Wellington.

After you've had your fun in the Deli, grab a takeaway coffee and go and watch the planes take off and land from the beach at Lyall Bay. Great entertainment for a 15 month old!

Off the shelf

One of the best bits about a holiday is choosing a book to get lost in.

I picked this one up because a) I liked the cover (shallow of me, I know) and b) I trusted the testimonials on the front and back (good use of the word 'feisty', Mia)

I'm LOVING it. I'm about halfway and have had really strong reactions to the choices of the main characters. It's really real and raw and I love the London element. 

Unfinished love is an interesting topic and I find myself getting really angry with the main characters.

The grass isn't always greener.

I love a book that can evoke so many strong emotions in a reader. Having said that, I'm nervous to find out what happens in the end.

I don't want it to finish! Oh well, there's always the excitement of discovering another great read.

Any suggestions?

*** Stop the press! I scheduled this post last week when I was about half way through the book. I've since finished it and am so disappointed, so angry about the ending. It was devastating, I feel so betrayed and let down! I feel so disillusioned, like all hope for happy endings has gone. A dear friend and I were talking about this the other night - are our expectations too high? Is the real world not all it's cracked up to be? Please don't let it be true! And don't read this book if you prefer to look at the world through rose coloured glasses - like me!

Around the world in 80 plates

 Like any good holiday, my recent trip to New Zealand was full of ah-mazing food discoveries.

Here are some of my faves . . .

Bluebird chips with onion dip (I ate a whole bowl to myself at the wedding recovery BBQ. Enough said.)

The best nibbles plate ever including homemade guacamole, smoked chicken, smoked salmon fillet, grilled haloumi with pickled red onions and yes . . . more onion dip.

Matched with Martinborough's finest whites.

Grazing platter at Poppies Winery. 

Hello dolmades and grilled courgettes and capsicums (gosh, I'm even speaking like the Kiwis now. I mean, zucchinis, not courgettes)

Beautiful Pinot Gris.

An ah-mazing feast at Shed 5 in Wellington. My camera carked it so I didn't get a pic of my fish and chips but it was GOOD.

And I just wanted to order "fush and chups" while I was over there. Small pleasures.

Fern had the cannelloni (and Sophie the banana)

Bridal brunch at Elk Cafe in Palmy.

The kumura (ahem, I mean sweet potato) mash was TDF. With poached egg, hollandaise and bacon.

Oh yes, definitely necessary to line the stomach before a big day.

Isn't that right, Lou?

Oh how I love food travels around the world!

Too cute for words

I'm back!

After 10 days of glorious holidaying fun in the land of the long white cloud, it's back to reality with a thud.

What a fabulous time I had in New Zealand with long lost friends. And of course, to top it all off, the beautiful wedding of Louise and Cam.

Aren't Ella and Hannah the cutest flower girls you've EVER seen? TDF. I've got a serious girl crush on their mum. Such an ah-mazing woman.

Lots of posts to be scheduled over the next few days. Don't you just LOVE this time of year?

xo

Old friends

Only three more sleeps 'til I set sail for New Zealand. Holidays, yes!

I'm so excited to catch up with my pals from London circa 2005. So much has happened since!

I was adopted as an honorary Kiwi during my time in the UK and was unbelievably lucky to have such amazing friends.

Lou (my old roomie) and Fern (her besty and my travel buddy) have been to visit me in Adelaide since our Filmer Road days, and I headed over to Fern and Scott's wedding in Mount Maunganui two and a half years ago. 

This time, Lou's tying the knot and I'm so excited about our reunion!

To get me in the spirit, I had a bit of a cruise down memory lane . . . 

Drinks in Auckland . . .

Running of the Bulls in Pamplona . . .

Sail Croatia . . .

Sunday snakebites at the P&P . . .

More snakebites, this time at the Fulham Slug & Lettuce . . .

Pouring pints in Freeling aka the pub from McLeod's Daughters . . .

Wedding fun on the beach . . . 

And drinks at the cricket . . . 

What brilliant times we've shared, girls!

Can't wait to add to the memories next week xo