Zooey good

These are my pics for the best dressed at the Emmys.

I could quite easily slip into any of them, but Zooey takes the cake in that pink number. Understated yet makes a statement, classic yet modern. Perfection!

Check out the rest of the red carpet talent here.

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

Lemon

TGIF friends!

It's been a good week, and it's going to be a great weekend.

Taking inspiration from one of my favourite TV characters Lemon Breeland and am going to reeeelax this weekend. I might get a manicure and sleep in and watch some catch up TV. I might even do some blogging - shock horror!

On the more active side, I'm also taking part in the Field of Women on the MCG on Saturday, and running the Mother's Day Classic with the fabulous and inspirational Bree. That girl can run. And I kind of 'joggle'. So it's going to be interesting. I've never run 8km in my life #whatwasithinkingsigningup?

Luckily I have my new iPhone arm band so I can look the part on Sunday. And I have some hot pink shorts I might pull out. Or not. Let's not scare the other runners. Stick with black Kate. Black is safe, black is slimming. Hot pink earrings will be enough.

I have also just received the gorgeous Adore book (the birthday celebrations continue!) from my friend Kelly and it's sensational, can't wait to flick through the colour on the weekend. Looking forward to the launch party on Thursday! Then we're all signed up for the Adore Shopping Tour next weekend, can't wait!

Wish me luck on my run!

Totally Texas

Did you see the delicious home of Bailey and Pete McCarty in the latest issue of Matchbook mag?

Those pink walls? Scrumptious.

I think I could be very comfortable in Texas.

Read about it and see more pics in this month's Matchbook mag 

Pics from the Daily Spark

Spring in my step

Spring is in the air, can you feel it?

Went for a walk on the weekend to buy some supplies for winetime and struggled to find a bag suitable to carry my groceries home in.

Settled on my bagladies Adelaide bag (which I love because I can wear it over the shoulder) but it's a bit deep and hard to find your keys and phone at the bottom!

I dream of looking oh so effortlessly chic on my weekend shopping adventures. Like a Parisienne, with a baguette poking out the top of my shopping basket, plus a big bunch of flowers, possibly a bottle of bubbles . . . and even a little puppy if you so desire.

Enter Lady Chatterley's Affair and her totes gorge shopping baskets. AND they're environmentally friendly. Score.

I have ordered the pink one and am desperate for it to arrive so I can take it blossom hunting with me. Found some good solid trees on my weekend walk and it would feel far less criminal in the dark of the night with my scissors at the ready, if I had a pretty pink basket at my side!

Get one for yourself here

Pics here and here

Pinkies swear

I'm a big fan of hot pink lips.

And now Glitter Guide's on the bandwagon. Yay!

Found a gorge Hourglass shade last year (Fever), but am looking for something a bit more fun and light, not so serious and 'I mean business'. It's a little bit too dark and 'confident'. 

Any recommendations for a new pink lippy?

You can have your cake . . .

. . . and eat it too!

Love Eddie Ross's take on the styley rainbow cake that has captured the imagination of party planners worldwide.

Just WAIT until I show you pics of the most gorgeous rainbow party a friend of mine threw for her three year old last week. Re-live Kelly's little birdie and Humpty Dumpty efforts to whet your appetite for this latest party perfection.

Floating my boat

With Matchbook mag hot off the e-press and so many new collections arriving in store (can you tell I've just been on my lunch break and just got paid!?), I've been seriously inspired to revamp my wardrobe.

Top of the list include . . .

J.Crew Maritime Dress

Oroton essentials bow ballet flats - in pink of course

On a side note - I did try on some ah-mazing leopard print Oroton ballet flats in DJs but I can't find them online ANYWHERE! Lusting for them like you wouldn't believe, so might have to head back tomorrow . . .

Marinoni pewterware at David Jones - I want this fruit bowl so badly

And they had the CUTEST cup and saucer that I've ever seen. Not Royal Albert cute (because we all know I love a floral and tonnes of pink), but more industrial, quirky, Tuscan cute

And this Lilly Pulitzer mettalic gold bow belt

Plus a set of Laguiole steak knives.

I know, I know, I'm behind the eight ball with these. They've been 'en vogue' for years and I've given so many as wedding and engagement gifts so think it's time I spoilt myself (because there sure aint a ring on this finger!)

And I just had to throw this in because I tried it last night for the first time and it was outofthisworld.

Maggie, you are my hero!

What's floating your boat at the moment?

xo

Christmas pretty

I'm back . . . but I'm busy.

(Isn't everyone?!)

Here's a Christmas pretty to enjoy thanks to Melissah at Scrapbook. She has collated some of the most beautiful Christmas snaps possible. Gorgeous and festive and oh so stylish.

And on the topic of Christmas, nothing grates me more than people who insist of calling it Xmas.

It's Christmas, people!

(Is it that obvious that I just got back from a horrid trip to the shops in my lunchbreak, and I'm a little bit stressed? Holiday shoppers do my head in - and don't get me started on the car parking! Just breathe . . . )

Lunch with heart

We had the most fabulous lunch at Sally's last week with guest of honour Kim honoured in true prep style.

Emma worked her magic to produce the most stunning table setting ever - totally gorgeous and so up my alley. Could it get any more perfect?

Art School Prep. Pink. Navy and white stripe. Ranunculus. Oh and a fabulous spread of food.

Read more about Emma's efforts here.

Doesn't she look fabulous in her Catherine Ogust dress? 

I'd better hold up my end of the bargain and supply the recipes!

This watermelon and feta salad is a favourite of mine. It just smacks of Summer and I make it at every opportunity. Perfect accompaniment for a summer BBQ - it's amazing how it can make even the most basic of sausages all of a sudden seem posh!

 

Over the years, I've played with a few variations on this salad and have come up with one that mixes a few together. Blokes are always wary of the unusual combination of flavours and textures - but they're the first to come back for seconds!

Watermelon Salad

Large quarter of seedless watermelon, removed from skin and diced into large chunks

1 block of feta (I like Danish for its creamy texture, but Greek tends to hold its shape better)

handful of pitted kalamata olives

half red onion, sliced very thinly

2 limes, juiced

handful mint and continental parsley, coarsely chopped

splash of olive oil

sea salt and cracked pepper

1. Put the thinly sliced red onion in a bowl and pour the juice of the two lines over the top. Leave the onion to soak for a good half hour or so (this takes out the harshness of the onion and turns the juice a gorgeous pink)
2. Lay the watermelon on a big flat platter and crumble the feta over the top
3. Scatter the onion over the top, dot with olives and then sprinkle with herbs
4. Pour the lime juice over the top of the salad and drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt and cracked black pepper

The next salad is a great leafy alternative that is lovely and fresh with the splash of lime (obviously flavour of the month in my kitchen!) 

Check back here for the recipe.

Sally and Emma created this delicious baked pasta dish - and they swear it's deceivingly healthy!

I don't have the exact recipe, but it was basically Lattina Fresh spinach ravioli with a homemade tomato sauce featuring onion, carrot and olives with a few dollops of low fat ricotta on top. Baked in the oven for a perfectly cosy lunch.

Dessert was out of this world ah-mazing. Sally outdid herself with cupcakes, chocolate brownies and lemon meringue pie (Emma's no fail recipe).

Derek's crushed raspberry tart was also a winner - such a refreshing and light end to a meal (thanks Donna Hay!)

Sally and Emma are living it up on the Gold Coast this weekend so I'll track down the dessert recipes later, but I have got my hands on the Donna Hay recipe for the crushed raspberry tart that Derek whipped up. I can imagine how totally fabulous it would be using Careme pastry - have you seen how high that stuff can puff?!

Crushed Raspberry Tart
(Recipe from Donna Hay)

375 g block store-bought puff pastry, thawed
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 tbsp caster sugar (we used regular granulated)
2 cups raspberries
1 tbsp icing sugar

sour cream filling:
1 cup sour cream (I think it would work better with the really thick type)
1/4 cup single or pouring cream (half and half; we used whipping, mmm)
1/3 cup brown sugar

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and trim to a 20 cm square.
2. Cut 8 strips measuring 1x20cm from the remaining pastry.
3. Place the pastry square on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper. Brush with the egg white and place half the strips around the edge to form a border.
4. Brush the borders with the egg white and place the remaining strips on top. Prick the base with a fork.
5. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Sprinkle the pastry with caster sugar.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.
7. To make the sour cream filling, whisk the sour cream, cream, and brown sugar in a bowl until smooth.
8. Combine half the raspberries with the icing sugar and crush lightly.
9. Fold in the remaining raspberries. Spoon the sour cream filling over the pastry base and spoon raspberries on top.

And do you know one of the best things about the lunch (besides the great company, the delicious feast, the top tunes and the gorgeous setting)? It was the fact we were paying tribute to Pink Ribbon Day and raising money for breast cancer research.

Lunch with heart. I likey.

Windsor ways

Totally in love with Windsor Smith at the moment. I find I'm pinning her stuff at every chance! I found pics of her house in House Beautiful and fell head over heels in love with it all.

The kitchen, in particular, took my breath away. A cook's dream! And I love the dramatic black and fact that it looks lived in - you can actually see her utensils and tea towels hanging on the oven handle! This is no display house - it's a home. This whole 'lived-in' look is something I'm definitely mad for at the moment (yep, mentioned it in my last post aswell!)

I love the idea of sitting in a wing-back chair at the kitchen table. How decadent! It's my dream to be able to entertain guests in the kitchen and have them settled and comfortable while you can still potter around at the stovetop or chopping board. I hate having to always duck out to the living room and leave my cooking unattended, just to make sure my guests have a drink and are cosy.

So yes, quite possibly the most perfect kitchen I've come across. Hits mine for six!

Oh, and I just had to throw in a pic of the sitting room. Those pink walls! Gush!

For more pics, check out the interview and full gallery in House Beautiful

It's raining baby

I've been meaning to blog about Bree's Baby Shower for ages but didn't have any good photos myself, so finally got some pearlers from her sisters.

Check out the effort that went into this shindig.

The theme was 'Cute as a Button' and as we already know Bree's having a girl, the pink touches were inevitable!

Now for the food . . . out of this world. I had to undo the top button of my pants when I went home later that night! I ate enough to last me a week!

The dessert buffet was the obvious highlight with the layered cake my hands-down favourite (Abby, do you take orders!?!?)

A fabulous idea was the little pots of chocolate with the spoon set inside - they were to stir into your coffee to make mocha. Clever, hey!?

Bree's oldest sister Kelly (on the left) has an almost three year old (remember Zara?) and is pregnant with her second, and Abby (in the middle) has two gorgeous little ones of her own (hello cuties!). Plus, she lives in the country (and so does their Mum), so how they all pulled this together for the guest of honour (who lives in Melbourne, mind you!) I'll never know!

It all helps that they had a beautiful space to work with, thanks to the in-laws.

The countdown is on, Miss Bree!

In the meantime, we have had a number of other 'buns in the oven' announcements of late, so it looks like we'll be raining baby for a while yet! Bring on the showers!

xo

Power to the pink!

Okay, so my styling's got a lot to be desired (hey, that's what friends like Emma are for!) but I did feel cool all the same that my fabulously bright pink Ikea sofa cover featured in Ivy & Piper mag this month.

I'm on the right track!

Just you wait until we've got this room together - it's a work in progress but we'll get there one day!

Now, excuse me while I dive back into IvP mag - it's a fabulous 1st birthday issue and I must make notes for Emma!

Ikat, I can

I am slowly slowly making progress at home. My bedroom is a focus at the moment with my bedside lamps my latest project.

I bought some fabulous ikat fabric on ebay (all the way from Uzbekistan! Let's just say I wasn't confident it would ever arrive, but it sure did and it is gorgeous!) and then I recovered the lampshades of the Bellas I bought from Bunnings a few months ago (thanks Kelly Green for the heads up!)

I have a fair bit to learn about clean edges, but it'll do for now! Love how it glows in both day and night - gorgeous yellow.

PS. How do you like my hot pink bedhead? I'll post about it later - need to get the whole bedscape looking respectable before I put it up! But it's certainly prepped up my room like noone's business. Love!