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

Happy days

Have you ever had one of those ultimate weekends? Where life just can't get any better and you thank your lucky stars for all the good?

I just had one. And I'm tickled pink.

It all started on Friday night when I went to my first soccer game at AAMI Park. I'm not really into 'football' in this form, but being the sports fan I am and living in the heart of Melbourne's sports precinct, I was keen to give it a go. And Adelaide United was playing, so happy to jump on that bandwagon.

We won.

Then Saturday morning I got up bright and early and took the dog for a walk - I was housesitting in Hawthorn East which is a lovely suburb not far from my house and I cherished the opportunity to have a furry friend around. We went to get a coffee and kick start our day at 7.30am before heading over to celebrate my precious Goddaughter's first birthday with breakfast.

Love her to bits.

Her Mum Bree is a superstar and whipped up a gourmet feast to line my stomach for the day ahead. Eggs, chorizo, avocado, tomato and feta. TDF. So much fun with the kidlets.

Then it was back home to prep for Derby Day. The weather threw things into a bit of a spin and I had to rethink my hair style, but we got there in the end - thanks to a YouTube tutorial on how to do my makeup! 

Looks terrible in the pic below, but it was so much fun to do and I'm led to believe it looked better in real life (albeit not much like a Victoria's Secret Angel!) . . .

Didn't Em look hot? I have such pretty friends!

Derby Day was great, we were based in The Nursery and gorged ourselves on chicken sandwiches and champagne all day. We were hosted by the gorgeous McKinnon family and I was over the moon when Clare told me her cousin reads this little old thing. Who would've thought?! I have a reader out there who isn't a blood relative or friend of my Mum's!?

Randomly bumped into my dear friend Alice on the train platform on the way home which was a gift from the Gods - I was worried we'd never manage to catch up that night. 

Obligatory train selfie below . . .

Rocking the red lips, Acey! 

Then Sunday was a day of rest - of sorts. I was still housesitting so indulged in a Foxtel marathon (Say Yes to the Dress is my new fave!) and then went shopping with Lill to soothe the hangover. Thank goodness for burritos.

Caught up with Alice again Sunday night for drinks at City Wine Bar then dinner at Lucy Liu's followed by nightcap at Eau de Vie.

Wow, we look tired (but so brown and gorge, Acey!)

Monday morning saw Alice get up with the sparrows at 4.30am to catch the red eye back to Brisbane and I managed a few more hours sleep before dragging myself out of bed for a run. Good girl, Kate.

Such gorgeous (and rare) weather called for lunch outdoors so Melissa and I treated ourselves to a couple of hours at Porgie & Mr Jones whilst debriefing the races. Monday night called for some serious couch time and a Breaking Bad marathon (I'm hooked - half way through Season 4. It's so addictive!).

Tuesday was a bit manic preparing for a Melbourne Cup Day BBQ with new friends - made my new favourite Ottolenghi salad (recipe to come) and drank far too much champagne. Retired to the couch for more Breaking Bad last night. I can't help myself.

And that's it! How good!? A seriously fun weekend with seriously fun people and events. Lots to add to the gratitude board.

 Thank you Melbourne for your glorious public holiday (and work for the free day off on Monday!) How did your (long) weekends fare?

And what are you grateful for?

xx

Black and white and yes all over

Happy Derby Day darlings!

Here's to classic black and white and boys in suits.

Giddy up!

xx

pic

From where I'd rather be . . .

Happy Melbourne Cup Day!

To get you in the mood and make you totally green with envy as you sit at your desk, here are some gorgeous pics from the team at Georgeous - event planners to the stars.

They do The Races like no other. I have a serious girl crush on the owner, Georgie Kay. What an absolute talent!

From David Jones at Caulfield to the Herald Sun at Flemington, they spoil their clients with beautiful blooms, innovative design and personalised finishing touches like nothing I've seen. Their interiors are mind-blowing and ground breaking, it's not the stock standard hospitality marquees you'll see at other events.

Follow them on Facebook here and while you're at it, look them up on Instagram (@georgeousoccasions), I love their behind the scenes shots.

All pics from Georgeous Facebook page

Dotty for the races

So I've been slack on the blogging front but with Melbourne Cup tomorrow, I thought I'd better share with you my Spring Carnival outfit.

I'm so thrilled with how my hat turned out! I've never had so many comments on my outfit before, I said to someone I felt like Miranda Kerr . . . without the body! Heather Clark of Studio Hats was the creative force behind it, she's brilliant.

Some may say I'm breaking all sorts of protocol by recycling my hat time and time again (as of tomorrow, I would've worn it four times in three weeks) but I've changed my dress each time and love how the price per wear is looking much nicer each time!

So here it is . . .

And this was with Jourdanne (the girl behind my freezer full of meat!) at our friend Jo's 30th birthday at Caulfield Cup Day at Morphettville . . .

And most recently at Cox Plate with my Mum and Dad at Moonee Valley.

It would've been perfect at Derby Day on the weekend.

And yes, I'll be wearing it again tomorrow at Morphettville for Melbourne Cup Day.

What's your Cup Day inspiration? Are you embracing neon or going more traditional this year?

Eastbound

Hello dear Readers

I'd love for you to meet Nicole. The gorgeous one on the left.

Nic and I used to work together - we yoga'ed, we shared lunches, we drank (lots) and we laughed (even more).

This Thursday, we're heading to Melbourne for four days of Spring Racing craziness.

The Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday is the highlight of our little getaway but we're fitting in lots of other adventures along the way.

Just to name a few . . . dinner at MoVida, shopping at Chadstone, drinks at Trunk, breakfast at St Ali, recovery at Riverland, Sunday Session at Little Creatures, lemon tart at Laurent on Little Collins, boy spotting at the Collins Quarter, dumplings in Chinatown. 

Hmm, and that's just a start!

I've got my hat all sorted but still swinging between two different dresses. And I can't find my black shoes or clutch.

Lucky we can fit in a spot of shopping before Saturday!

PS. Pic from the cricket a few years back. Bring it.

Snaps to Mary

Here

Here

Here

Here

She's nailed it. 

Again.

Princess Mary looked perfect, yes perfect, at the wedding of Prince Guillaume Of Luxembourg and Stephanie de Lannoy.

I think I might need a hat like that for The Races.

Will never be able to do that frock colour though - too many school uniform memories! Love that her classic look is embracing an on-trend almost peplum frill. 

Snaps to you Mary.

(PS. Mez . . . did you see your birthplace featured in the Lonely Planet's world best cities for 2013? Double snaps, girlfriend!)

Mad hatters

The countdown is on.

Less than three weeks until Nicole and I hit up Melbourne for the Cox Plate.

We're making a real girls' long weekend of it with dinner at Movida and drinks at Trunk amongst the fun and frivolity. There's also shopping expeditions to Chadstone and indulgent breakfasts at St Ali.

We're like the country cousins coming to visit the big smoke!

I have a milliner working on my hat as we speak (I feel so posh saying that!). I've used the black and white polkadot hat above for inspiration - isn't it divine?

I figure I'd invest in the hat this year rather than the dress - I have so many dresses to choose from as a result of my many bridesmaid duties over the years and classic black and white should go with lots of different outfits.

I haven't ruled out a last minute purchase in Melbourne before the big day though . . .

I hope the hat's ready soon as I have a friend's 30th at the races on Caulfield Cup Day in Adelaide, I want to get as many runs as I can out of it. We all know the 'cost per wear' justification we go through in our head when forking out for an expensive piece!

Melbourne, here we come!

Pic from Magic Millions. Oh how I'd love their marketing budget - they do the BEST fashion shoots every year

Yellow fields

Love me a bit of country time.

Have headed up to the mid-north for the races and relaxation on the farm.

A few big nights at the local provided hours of fun and generated many 'quotes of the year' that will provide laughs for years to come.

Heading home tomorrow, probably ten kilos heavier after all this country hospitality!

Thanks Kel and JB x

Up in the air

It's Sunday morning and I'm trying to scare off a hangover with a coffee and ham and cheese toastie at the airport.

Has anyone else noticed their hangovers are delayed when they're older? You wake up bright as a button and are lulled into a false sense of security. Then bam! Someone hits you over the head with a full sized frozen barramundi.

It hurts.

So I'm feeling top of the pops at the moment. Probs still high on life after catching up with some of my faveys this weekend.

A day in the Committee Room at Flemington, duck ragout and crafternoon cleverness. I've been well and truly spoilt.

Thanks to Amanda, Gem and Lill. My Melbourne posse never fails to deliver xx

Girls Day Out

I'm at Sofitel Girls Day Out today at Flemington.

Let's pretend I'm going for the horses. 

Happy weekend friends x

Pinterest

A little bit of silly

Sometimes you just have to live life on the edge and act with your heart rather than your head.

A gorgeous friend from London, now living in Melbourne, sent me a message after work tonight with the following proposition . . . 

'Hi Love, I was wondering if by chance you would be free to come to Melb Saturday for the day?'

What a random request at such short notice! Turns out she has a spare ticket for Sofitel Girls' Day Out at Flemington this weekend and thought it'd be right up my alley.

So I ignored all responsibilities and booked my flights tonight. That's money I should be saving for New Zealand, or New York or to pay off my Cricket Membership . . . but what's the fun in that?

Now I just have to decide what to wear! Eek!

Love these pics from 2009 Magic Millions brochure by Chris Colls 

Who was your pick?

The inaugural winner of Thoroughbred Racing SA's Fashion at The Races competition was decided at SA Derby Day on the weekend.

Who do you think should've taken home the keys to the VW Polo?

See full album here

It's going to be a big day . . .

Okay. So I missed it.

My big opportunity to see her live, and I missed it!

Someone gave me a bum steer on the time of the press conference yesterday and I got there only to catch the tail end of Peter Moody's interview.

Devastated!

Do us proud today, BC! Don't let Adelaide be known as the town that broke your winning streak!

I've got my salmon with black polkadots flag at the ready (plus a new outfit thanks to Mr David Jones last night!).

It's going to be a big day . . .

Not your average Caviar

Black Caviar owners gearing up for their trip to Royal Ascot

Do the words 'Black Caviar' mean anything to you?

Well, they've got Adelaide in a tizz with only two more sleeps until we see the champion sprinter try for a record 20th win at Morphettville on Saturday.

It's an exciting time to be working in the racing industry!

Now the question is, what to wear . . .

Pic here

In pictures

I had a very busy, random yet fun-filled Easter long weekend.

Here are my adventures in pictures . . .

Donna Hay hot cross cookies that I took for morning tea at Flavs's wedding working bee on Good Friday

Quick cuddles with my niece in between social catch ups (she's yet to master the 'smile at the camera' command!). Was desperate to include this pic anyway, just to show off my fabulous new neon pink flower earrings thanks to Kimberlee. HOT.

Prawn and scallop pizza treats whipped up in the wood fired oven at Liam's annual JKL Good Friday 'linner' (reverse brunch ie. lunch mixed with dinner). 

He did well to cater for the Good Friday 'no meat' rule.

My Donna Hay pavlova with home made lemon curd, blueberries and strawbs. To quote Liam "best pav. ever." 

Why, thank you!

Early morning at Clare Easter Races - gorgeous Autumn day in the country. 

Think I bumped into every boy I've ever kissed. So Adelaide.

Easter Sunday Fashion at The Races at the Penola Cup on the Limestone Coast. 

So surreal bumping into Brooke from The House on Chambers. Felt like a bit of a stalker (and I'm sure Farmer Joe thought I was too!)

No rest for the wicked . . . up at 7am on Easter Monday to pick up my bestie from the airport. Awesome breakfast at Grind It in Glenelg.

Hot cross muffins for lunch with my Grandparents, Mum and Dad, bro and sister-in-law and cutie pie Ruby.

We also demolished a Donna Hay packet flourless chocolate truffle cake. Have you tried these? Out of control ah-mazing. Took the leftovers for dinner at my favourite DINKS house, Andy and Kristie.

And then I rolled into bed by 9.30pm (ridiculously early for me) and slept like a log.

I hope you all had stress-free and relaxing weekends surrounded by your loved ones.

I'm off to finish my bag of Haigh's Berry Chocs. So good.

Editor's note: My Mum did most of the cooking. She wanted me to add that.