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.

Jar of love

I popped into Mum and Dad's last night after a very successful Christmas shopping adventure.

I hadn't planned on shopping and had no presents in mind which is why I think I did so well.

Having said that, did rack up the first six purchases for the night just for me!

Anyway, Mum was busy in the kitchen when I stopped by and I was intrigued by her bench full of empty cookie jars.

She went on to show me the Christmas presents she'd prepared for her gym friends and I thought they were just such a good idea I had to share. 

How easy! I've done something similar for my friends before, but I especially loved the different textures used in this version . . .

And the best bit?

They have downloadable templates you can print off to make life so much easier!

See the recipe in the December issue of Australian Good Taste magazine and download the templates here.

hard to find but easy to read

I love a new online magazine find!

Hats off to the team at hard to find - their marketing is fabulous and they have certainly got my attention.

If it's not the beautifully presented catalogues that come in my monthly mag, then it's the daily email updates I get that brighten my day.

Their styling is awesome and their offerings so fresh. 

So it was no surprise that their latest venture is so spot on the mark.

htf. magazine is truly beautiful. And clever. Sure, there's lots of product placement but they've done it so intelligently. It's not all 'look at us, we're so great', it's more subtle and classy and I'm impressed.

Click here to read their launch issue.

Rockin' Robyn

Hats off to Ralph Lauren for appointing Sydney plus-sized model Robyn Lawley to his latest advertising campaign.

She is drop dead gorgeous and most importantly, realistic.

I laugh when I hear that at Size 12 she's considered 'plus size' . . . maybe there's hope for me yet as a model . . . Ha! Not in this lifetime.

Surely guys (and girls) prefer a girl that looks like this - curvy, happy and not hungry. And they won't be afraid they'll break them!

Good on you Robyn!

Pics and story from news.com.au

Home theatre

Loved my latest issue of Vogue Living and was especially taken by this Italian transformation of a turn-of-the-century theatre into a modern loft.

All that light, it's just gorgeous!

Got me thinking of how I love high ceilings and a sense of grandeur.

And also how much I love it when a 'venue' is used in the most unexpected fashion. Like a church for a home, or an old tomato tin for a herb planter.

This recycled theatre concept is used beautifully in Adelaide at One Rundle Trading Co.

Those ceilings are just beautiful. Really adds to the shopping experience.

I'd love to set up a tea house in such an establishment - like The Tea Room in Sydney's QVB. Just gorgeous.

Cucumber sandwiches, citrus tarts, scones and jam and cream . . .

On that note, anyone for a cuppa? (My drink of choice during Dry July!)

Pics

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

Clever cookie

Looking for a cheap, inspiring and effortlessly chic decorating solution for your kitchen splashback?

Especially when you're not sure what you're going to do yet - be it tiles, stainless steel, granite etc but you can't stand looking at that hideous wallpaper/bare wall/mustard tiles a minute longer?

Look no further than concrete & honey for the best idea I've seen in ages!

The clever girl has lined her once ugly blue kitchen splashback with pages of beautiful magazines - using the easy-to-wipe mag covers down the bottom where splatters will land from the stove top.

Genius!

Imagine if you pasted all your favourite recipes up there - would make working out what to have for dinner SO much easier!

See here for her post.

Wicksteadly wonderful wedding

Be still my beating heart.

Is this the most perfect wedding you've ever laid eyes on?

The fabulously gorgeous Daily Cup of Couture featured this spread from Vogue UK which celebrated London-based designer Emma Wickstead's Tuscan nuptials.

The champagne coloured bridesmaid dresses had me at hello.

And the pearl beading on her dress, which she later swapped for an elegantly simple Givenchy inspired number, was perfection.

And that skirt!

Instant new girl crush.

Emma, do you have a brother?!

See Daily Cup of Couture for the low-down and of course check out the full gallery at Vogue UK

Pics care of Vogue UK

Take the quiz

Have you ever wondered how to put a label on your design style?

I'm still searching for those perfect few descriptive words that encapsulate my individual style. Emma's helping me fine tune it.

In the meantime, I took the iscd quiz to see what they suggest . . .

Modular Living?

This was the first one that popped up after I completed the quiz. And it couldn't have got me more wrong.

Your space is quite minimalist.

Your living spaces are simple and unadorned.

Every space is rational and reduced to your fundamental needs.

There is no need for excess.

You have got to be kidding! Have you seen my bedroom!?

Nope, not happy with that one so I took the test again and tried to sway it.

Sleek New Earth.

You love the outdoors and bring them into your living environment.

You consider the technological side of your space.

You bring trends that complement your lifestyle into your home.

Hmm, not really an outdoors girl myself but I do love big bunches of fresh flowers, so is that what they could be referring to? Not too sure about the technological side. This is the girl who still buys CDs and doesn't have an iTunes account. Oh, and I also have a VHS player. Yep.

So let's try again.

High Street Classic

You collect key pieces over time.

Rich and luxurious objects appeal to you.

Your home is a temple to all you love.

Beloved memories fill your home.

You balance function with excess.

You enjoy the finer things in life.

Trends are integrated into your home.

Okay, now we're getting there. I still don't think it's me to a tee, but an improvement on the other two.

I think I need something with 'colour' and 'preppy' or 'pop' or maybe 'barefoot elegance'. Nope, still nothing.

To borrow from the gorgeous Anna Spiro, she describes her style as 'collected, colourful, layered, comfortable, interchangeable, interesting, unexpected.'

I like that. Something to work towards.

How would you describe your style? Go on, try and wrap it up in five words or less.

Take the quiz for yourself here and create your own Magazine Cover!

I hope you have more luck than me!

Best Ever Book

Ooohhh, here's some fun weekend reading!

Pop on the kettle, put your feet up and enjoy some Wedding Style Guide fabulousness here

Bentwood Brilliance

 

The April edition of High Gloss Magazine lived up to its first issue and delivered a beautiful publication full of inspiration and colour.

I was very excited to see a hot pink Bentwood feature in their Casual Glamour section and was especially interested to see how much one of these little beauties would retail for.

Makes my $4 gems from St Vinnies look like a steal, hey!? With about $20 spent on spray paint and a couple of extra bucks on sandpaper, me thinks I have done very well!

How do you rue?

I rue on the weekends.

Happy reading xo