We are family

Thought you might be interested in a family pic from my Granny and Grandpa's 60th wedding anniversary lunch. Or not. But I'm a sentimental old thing and I love these special times.

We had a beautiful meal at Jolley's Boathouse which was just the perfect venue - it is on the river which excited the kids to no end. Ruby and Zane loved feeding the pelicans and swans out on the banks of the Torrens. 

And we overlooked Great Grandpa's bridge - Granny's father was the engineer for this bridge in the photo above. It's the main bridge across the River Torrens that connects North Adelaide to the CBD. We're all a little bit proud of it so it was lovely for it to be a part of our day.

Grandpa dressed to impress and Granny looked lovely in her pearls. My dress was uber comfy and the lipstick lasted a treat.

Speaking of lipsticks, I've just discovered a fab new range of lippies but will go into that another time.

It was so lovely to have this family time. And boy oh boy, was the food delicious. A seriously good feed, one of the best I've had in ages - and that includes dining out in Melbourne. We ate and drank like kings - including a bottle of Rockford Basket Press which was a very nice touch (thanks Dad).

And then my weekend finished off with a cup of tea and Anzac biscuit at Granny and Grandpa's before flying back to Melbourne - begrudgingly, I might add. I didn't want to let go of my Mum when she hugged me at the airport. I thought it was supposed to get easier after two years!?

Thank goodness for FaceTime.

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

An Italian love affair

Amal Alumuddin.

She totally nailed, it right?

What a stunner. And wasn't George so dreamy in his custom Armani tuxedo.

Did you read this article? Hilarious.

I particularly like the comment about her "love of quirky footwear" - a girl after my own heart . . . says me who's sitting at her desk in her terribly conservative office, rocking out in her ever so fabulous LCA twinkle toe flats. Shoes tell a lot about a girl (and a guy, mind you!)

See more pics from the wedding celebrations here at vogue.com.au/brides

It's a deal!

I am a huge romantic (but I'm not sure if you'd actually call me romantic) and my friends all know about my Top 5 proposal options (number one is on the scoreboard at Adelaide Oval, FYI future husband).

I'm not mushy and cringe at anything too cutesy but this proposal tickled my fancy. It was relevant and unique and personal. Tick, tick, tick!

Good luck to them!

O so good

She can do no wrong.

Love Olivia's take on the bridal gown. Okay, so it's not what I'd go for, but I love it all the same. The touch of blue, the luxe fabrics, the perfect pony. Oh, and the gorgeous handbag in hubby Johannes Huebl.

Nailed it, O.

Pics from here.

Start of something

Hi!

Remember me!? Yep, it's been a long time between drinks but I'm not sorry - I've been busy!

I've been living and loving and learning and having a ball.

What have you all been up to? So much has happened since we last caught up. I don't know where to start . . .

But I know you're going to love these floral necklaces we made for Jourdanne's hen's day last week. I'll post more soon. And give some hot tips on what to do. Burning yourself on the tips of ever finger with the hot glue gun is not recommended.

Are you hot where you are? It's 35 here today. And I'm home sick with an earache. Doc says it might be from flying. Might have to give up on those dreams of being a flight attendant after all. Ha!

Did you watch the Super Bowl? Bruno Mars was incredible! 

Happy Monday!

Fitzperfect

Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?

Georgeous | Simply Georgeous Occasions never cease to ah-maze me. Their work is perfection, out of this world, totally exquisite.

This wedding in Melbourne's Fitzroy Town Hall ticks all my boxes - colour, flowers, community, magic . . . everything.

Check here for the full facebook album

In the meantime, back to researching my 30th . . . 

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

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!)

Going to the chapel

Congrats Gill and Nathan!

xo

Booked

I'm booked!

And I couldn't be happier. After so much deliberating over flights and dates and prices and locations and travel plans, I took the plunge and booked my trip to New Zealand in December.

The whole purpose of my trip is to celebrate the wedding of one of my favouritest people in the whole wide world.

Louise . . . oh and Cam (her fabulous fiance that I'm yet to meet!)

Lou was my bestie in London seven years ago. We lived together in a house of 10 randoms and then moved into the same room when we realised everyone else was weird. I even dated her brother for a wee while (gosh, I'm starting to talk like her already - which self-respecting Aussie says 'wee'?)!

We travelled together during our time abroad and ticked off many bucket list items that still make me smile - running of the bulls in Pamplona, Royal Ascot, Cartier International Polo, Sail Croatia . . . and far too many snakebites for anyone's good!

Lou is besties with Fern (whose wedding I helped celebrate in NZ two years ago) and they paid me a visit to the Rads in 2008, so we all share a very close bond.

I'm flying into Auckland where Fern will pick me up and we'll drive down the guts of the North Island to Manawatu where the wedding will be held.

I've got ten days of Summer holiday fun to look forward to and can't wait to catch up with the old London crew again - how times  have changed. I mean, Fern now has a baby! Can't wait to meet little Soph xx

Any tips for NZ would be appreciated . . . although I know I'm in good hands with Fern behind the wheel!

Here's to happy wedding planning Lou Lou x

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

All together now

The truth be known, I'm a hopeless romantic.

I'm not soppy and lovey dovey at all, PDAs offend me (that's Public Displays of Affection to the uninitiated) and I struggle with the L word, but I adore the idea of romance. Of happy endings. Of kindred spirits.

Can I be a romantic but not be romantic?

Well, this marriage proposal had me at hello. It is so cute, I love me a bit of kitsch and as a big fan of Bruno Mars and Glee, I totally loved this.

Double celebration

Oh, and happy anniversary to Kate and Wills too!

Isn't my Mum lucky to share her birthday with their special day?

Pots of tea all round, people!

Hip hip hoorah!

Cookie monster

Happy Easter to you all!

My four day long weekend is almost non-existent as I'll be working, but Mum and I have managed to fit in some quality time in the kitchen. Last night, we made Donna Hay Hot-Cross Cookies for me to take to a dear friend's wedding working bee today.

Then I flogged the old school mix-master and whipped up a pav for 'linner' (the reverse of brunch ie. lunch mixed with dinner) with some old workmates. Seafood pizzas are on the menu. Yum.

Used this pav recipe that I tried out with my brother a few weeks ago. Solid.

How are you making the most of the long weekend?

Hot-cross cookies

125g butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
2 1/2 cups self-raising flour, sifted
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon mixed spice
1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup sultanas
Icing
1 cup icing sugar, sifted
1 tablespoon boiling water

1. Preheat oven to 160C. Place the butter and brown sugar in an electric mixer and beat for 8–10 minutes or until pale and creamy. 
2. Gradually add the eggs and vanilla, beating well after each addition. 
3. Add the lemon rind, flour, cinnamon, mixed spice, milk and sultanas and beat until a smooth dough forms.
4. Roll tablespoonsful of the dough into balls and place on lightly greased baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper. 
5. Bake for 14–15 minutes or until light golden. Allow to cool on trays. 
6. To make the icing, place the icing sugar and water in a bowl and mix until a paste forms. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a 3mm nozzle and pipe a cross over each cookie. Allow to set. Makes 40.

Recipe from here

Lavender love

We had the beautiful wedding of Christina and Craig last Friday and everything about it was perfect.

(By the way, I'm on this Friday wedding bandwagon, it was awesome having two days to recover!!)

The deliriously happy couple looked gorgeous and everyone had such a fun night.

The flowers were spectacular - full of lavender and purple blooms. Bliss Events did a wonderful job, really capturing the vintagey, country chic, barnyard vibe (Cat will probably kill me for that poor description which really didn't do her any justice! Just trust me, they were ah-mazing)

And this is me with the bride. Isn't she a vision!?

I tried to channel my inner Elva Fields and convert a new necklace into a masterpiece by adding a brooch. Hmm, not sure I really got there, but am so lucky to have such creative and talented friends - Emma helped with my jewels and hair (and also played chauffeur) while Sally did my makeup. She is a master, that girl. I felt so pretty!

Here's to a happy and healthy long life ahead Christina and Craig x

An 'Affair' to remember

Time to share some more love through the Liebster Awards.

I'm over the moon to include this fabulous gal in my list as I've got to know her over email this past year or so and feel like we'd be besties in 'real life' if we were ever to meet.

Tina Kent of Lady Chatterley's Affair, hits my design/party/fashion ethos right on. 

She has style to die for and I'd swap my digs for her stunning home in a second. I think her wedding was quite possibly the most magical event I've ever laid eyes on?

This wonder woman never ceases to amaze me - she's just had her second child (gorgeous little Alice) AND has opened an online store.

In amongst all this mayhem, the darling found time in her day to respond to some questions for The Polkadot Pantry. Here she goes . . . 

Three ingredients that are always in your shopping trolley?

Danish fetta cheese, french bread stick, nappies!

Who's your style icon? 

Jackie Kennedy

First CD you bought

Empire Records Soundtrack

Favourite shade of lipstick

Elizabeth Arden - coral vibrations

(*Editor's note - I'll be heading out to try this one today, T always looks fab!)

Best thing about blogging

Meeting people with the same interests

Check out other Liebster features here

On a side note, Tina is so well-loved in ye olde bloggy world that Brooke from The House on Chambers also acknowledged her in her own Liebster nominations! Talk about hot hot hot!

If only she lived in Adelaide . . . although T, I feel a little holiday to Brisbane on the cards soon! Pop that kettle on xo

Make sure you visit her fantabulous blog here. I promise it'll be a new daily fave.

Do the happy hen dance

Happy happy Hen's Day to the darling Flavs today.

We're celebrating with a garden party this afternoon and then some cheeky karaoke later tonight. Will be a hoot with girls arriving from all over the country to celebrate this special occasion.

Enjoy, my dear!

See full gallery of this fabulous hen's day here

Pics from Style Me Pretty