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

Teepee terrific

I love party planning and always try to find a unique angle for a celebration.

Whether it's the food, a signature drink, the decorations or entertainment, there needs to be something to differentiate the event and make it stand out.

And then of course there's the venue. The real backbone of the event.

This is where Tipikata Marquee Hire comes in to its own.

How fabulous are these teepees? 

A gorgeous take on the stock standard marquee - I love how versatile they are. The walls can be up or down, there's a fire, it's intimate or it's big and impressive . . . and it's different.

I've got some ideas for my 30th next year . . . think of the awesome themes I could explore!

Find out more about Tipikata marquees here

With compliments

Look at this totally delicious living room that Sally just sent me through.

She said it reminds her of my place. Biggest compliment EVAH!

I've got a long way to go but this is total inspiration from none other than Rita Konig.

If only I had a magic wand and could wave it over my shoebox of a unit to transform it into this beauty . . .

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

Lost in Canola

Please indulge me while I have a proud Godmother moment.

Isn't Max just the cutest little thing? Happiest kid on the planet, I tell you!

Mark and Zara look pretty stoked too.

Kelly was behind the lens for these pics . . . doesn't the canola make a gorgeous backdrop? I won't embarrass Mark by revealing his age . . . but will say he was back home for the weekend celebrating his 20 year school reunion.

Whoops. Secret's out.

Make sure you get in the shot next time, Kelly!

PS. Did you find me a farmer while you were out there?

View from the floor

Getting fit isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I hurt my hip at bootcamp a month ago and have been at the physio ever since. She's given me stretches to do but I've been slack with my homework and with another appointment tomorrow, I was trying to fit in one last mega stretch in front of the telly tonight.

I'd gone for a run on the treadmill (again, in front of the telly) earlier this evening and by the time I got down to my floorwork, I found it incredibly hard to get back up. 

Ouch. I hurt.

Anyway, I looked up from the floor to see what I could use to help pull myself up with (what a wuss I am!) and was pleasantly surprised by all the colour in the room. A bit overcome, would probably be a better description, but it certainly looks like a happy space (if not incredibly messy!).

View from the floor. Yep, they're my stretches at the bottom of the photo. Fat lot of good they're doing.

I thought I'd take you through some of my favourite things in my living room . . . and then you can help me 'edit' it (in the words of Emma). It's all a bit cluttered and crazy at the moment - I've been collecting random bits and bobs since I bought my little shoe box four years ago but have failed to 'curate' a collection and instead, put things where I see a space.

Hmm, I have a lot to learn!

Now to some of the things I love . . .

The For Like Ever poster up the back on the right

I know, I know, I still have to find a home for it! And did you notice the little mini version on the tray? My workmates gave it to me in the interim while we waited to get my big one framed. So sweet x

My Kate Spade dessert plates 

In the pink box under the nail polishes. Gemmal, you spoil me x

. . . and Kate Spade tea cup and saucer

Feel like such a lady drinking from this, thanks Bree x

My cushion collection

It's slowly coming together, love love love my three newest additions care of Lill and Peach. Floral is really working for me at the moment

Fresh flowers

Bluebells from Granny's garden and a pretty bunch from a boy I went on a date with last weekend (I know, who said chivalry was dead?)

My Notting Hill print

Aaahhhh, London. Need I say any more?

My dupion silk lampshade

Stunning cranberry, navy and jade green check . . . gosh I need to paint that base!

My vintage vase

First purchase from Anna Spiro's Absolutely Beautiful Things!

Bentwood chair

This has reminded me I need to put it back in the kitchen! It's one of four but we ran out of red spray paint and is the only one still in its natural state. Thanks for your bargain hunting skills JB!

Inspirational quotes

Love the framed hot pink one from Ad "There is nothing like a dream to create the future"

Coffee table books

Some people collect shoes but I go for coffee table books - cookbooks are my weakness followed by French inspired beauties

And that's just to name a few.

So . . . it's a mess, but a work in progress.

And a place I love to call home!

Any suggestions!?

Taken

Okay, I admit it.

I was watching X Factor tonight. 

Only because there was nothing else on and I am ever so slightly intrigued by a couple of those young girls' voices. Bella, is it? Wow, she's a bit talented isn't she!?

Plus, GCB follows it and I LOVE those girls. So wrong, but so right.

Anyway, I was so excited to see the trailer for the sequel to one of my favourite movies during X Factor - Taken.

Have you seen it? If you haven't, you must hire it.

Just don't watch it before you let your daughter go overseas on her own.

Lucky for me, Mum and Dad watched it after I'd returned home safely from two years abroad. Dad said he would seriously have to reconsider letting me trapse across the globe after the horrors of that film.

Is it time to tell him about my planned USA adventures next year?

I can't wait to see this at the movies . . .

Oscar de la Wow

If I could choose one designer to design my wedding dress, it would be Oscar de la Renta.

His work is ah-mazing.

Remember the pink Oscar the Russian gives Carrie?

I've had two bridesmaid dresses based on one of his wedding dress designs.

And then Lady Chatterley herself introduced me via Pinterest to the most FABULOUS dress ever. I don't think I've ever seen a dress that's more 'me'.

Check. It. Out.

Hello lover.

There are so many more pretties in his RTW Spring 2013 Collection. Take a peek . . .

Smash hit

I am LOVING Smash.

Is anyone else on board? 

It has the best bits of everything - New York, musicals, cute English accents, gorgeous brunette leads, romance. And Debra Messing.

It's basically Glee on steroids.

Loved this rendition of Florence & The Machine's Shake it Out . . .

Pretty in neon pink

Welcome little Adelaide Sophie!

And how cool is her Mummy Michelle? Looking FAB in neon I might say!

(PS. I think Daddy Pete is still a bit nervous hence the shaky photo. Eyes were closed in the other pic so I had to go with this one. You need a beer or two, Pete! Enjoy x)

Lady in red

I love this dress, bow so much.

Minus the keyhole.

Isn't it divine?!

Pinterest

A cushy life

My clever friends are at it again.

Peach surprised me with a gorgeous handmade orange trellis cushion the other day while Lill loaded me up with two stunning floral numbers on my recent trip to Melbourne.

Clever girls!

My cushion collection is definitely taking shape.

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

Sweet tooth fairy

I love a food blog as much as I love Wednesday nights on the couch with Farmer Wants a Wife on telly. Possibly even more.

On my usual Pinterest stalking adventures the other night, I came across a fabulous Pin by Miss Brown Button herself . . . an iced vovo cake.

I followed the links through and found myself at what only could be described as Heaven.

Raspberri Cupcakes is my new favourite blog. I have an unhealthy obsession with it. The strange bit is that I'm not much of a sweet tooth, yet the pics of these masterpieces have been drooling on my keyboard.

Stephanie's very clever recreations of chocolate bar and biscuit classics have me most impressed. Whether it's the Tim Tam cake or Rolo cake, she manages to reinvent a family favourite for the fussiest of cake lovers.

I think I'd like to put in an order for that trifle next year. The only one I know who'd be up to it is Anna.

Do you accept the challenge, Miss P?

xo

Pics from here

It's raining Spring

Spring is a beautiful time of the year and what better way to ring it in than with a celebration of new life?!

The girls threw a beautiful baby shower for Michelle last week that was full of colour, fun and lots of bubbles!

We had lots of fun creating singlets and bibs and Emily and I were {not so} quietly thrilled when Mum-to-be chose our clothesline version as her favourite!

Anna made the most fabulous lemon curd friands and I just wish I had a photo of them to share, I ate them faster than you could say 'taste.com.au'

Here's to the healthy arrival of the little one next week, Pete and Michelle xo

Lemon Curd Friands

Preparation Time

10 minutes

Cooking Time

20 minutes

Makes

10

Ingredients

1/2 cup (75g) plain fl our, sifted

1 1/2 cups 185g almond meal

1 1/3 cups (200g) pure icing sugar, sifted, plus extra to dust

5 eggwhites

200g unsalted butter, melted, cooled

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

5 tsp lemon curd, plus extra to serve

Whipped cream (optional), to serve

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 10-hole friand pan or line with paper cases.
2. Mix the flour, almond meal and sugar in a bowl. 
3. In a separate bowl, lightly beateggwhites with a fork until foamy, then add to dry ingredients with butter and zest and stir with a wooden spoon to combine. 
4. Divide batter among friand pans. Place 1/2 teaspoon of curd on each friand and use a wooden skewer to swirl through batter.
5. Bake for 20 minutes or until light golden. Cool, then dust with extra icing sugar. Serve with extra lemon curd, and whipped cream if desired.

Recipe from taste.com.au

Art of the dot

A girl after my own heart.

Kate Spade.

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 

Anna Platten

Had yet another cultural fix at the Art Gallery of South Australia's latest depARTure event last week.

Emma and I headed along to marvel at the talents of local South Australian artists involved in SALA - South Australian Living Artist Festival.

The works of Anna Platten really hit a chord with me, her paintings are exquisite! I didn't really 'get' her pieces, but I'm happy to look at them at face value and appreciate their prettiness! The colours she used were amazing, the subjects popped out off the canvas with an almost 3D effect.

Gosh, I really need some lessons in art appreciation and 'jargon' don't I!?

Pics from here and here and here