Humphrey Style

Humphrey B Bear, you silly old bear!

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!)

In the Palm Springs of my hands

I'm trying to work out what to do for my 30th.

Do I want a brunch, long lunch, dinner party or swanky soiree?

I can't decide!

But I do know that if I lived in Palm Springs, I think I'd like to hose the partay - whatever style I decide - to be held here.

The Colony Palms Hotel.

Beyewtiful.

Imagine the gorgeous outfits my guests would come dressed in, and the sublime cocktails that would be served.

It's indoor. It's outdoor. It's perfect.

Those red and white striped cabanas? Divine!

It'd make for gorgeous photos, that is for sure.

Any other suggestions for how I could celebrate the day?

Pics from here and here

No guilt here

So if you're like me, you get home from work and want something quick and easy that excites the tastebuds.

Something that's filling and satisfying but not heavy on the calories.

Well, I think we may have found a winner, lovely readers!

(Actually, credits to my Mum who whipped this up after our Zumba class last night!)

Enter the Weight Watchers No Guilt Pizza.

I've experimented with a few of their suggested toppings before, but this one was a bit left of centre and really fresh and light.

And soooooo easy. Were there enough 'Os' in that sooooo?

Here we go . . .

Take one wholemeal pita

Spread with a tablespoon of pesto (we just used the stock standard basil)

Scatter a shake or two of chilli flakes over the pesto

Thinly slice zucchini and layer over the pizza base

Top with halved grape tomatoes (not too many otherwise it goes soggy)

Dollop low fat ricotta cheese on top

Bake in a pizza oven (or normal oven) until crispy

Serve with a scattering of torn flat leaf parsley and fresh mint on top

(We added chicken and grated cheese to Big John's - being a retired meat wholesaler, he's not really down pat with the whole vegetarian thing)

TDF readers. It's amazing.

Enjoy x

Please come to the land down under

I may be slow off the mark, but I am very excited to find out that Laduree has opened in Sydney!

Flavs sent me the pic above on a recent trip to the Harbour City. Oh how I was jealous. Apparently the line up went out the door and around the corner so Flavso missed out on a visit herself. I'll come with you next time, my dear!

The only other thing that would make me this happy in the food world would be a Dean & DeLuca opening, or a Hummingbird or Magnolia Bakery opening up an Australian branch (specifically, in Adelaide!)

I don't ask for much, non?

Top pic from here

Alter-ego alert

I had a friend's 30th birthday party on the weekend and it was an alter-ego dress up theme.

It was a no brainer for me - I went as Kate Middleton. One of the ladies at work even calls me the Duchess.

I went for a simple, low key look that I remembered from the Olympics hype. 

Coral red jeans, blazer, white tee and silk scarf. Oh, and cut out mask.

I had to call into Granny's to pick up the scarf and it's gorge, we found it buried deep in one of her drawers and she's let me keep it. Bless.

Someone else turned up in the exact same outfit. Bugger. Of all the Duchess outfits to choose from! It was very funny, great to see someone else with good taste, ha!

The guest of honour dressed up as Beyonce and her husband played along as Jay-Z. It was gold. I hate to think how many bottles of fake tan they went through!

There was also a pair of nuns, a devil, Madonna, Scooby Doo, a few catwomen and my favourite . . . Sharon Strzelecki complete with neck brace.

Who is your alter-ego?