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!

LIKEtoKNOW:IT

I love the thought of being an entrepreneur. Identifying a hole in the market and solving a problem.

Well, it's hats off to the team behind LIKEtoKNOW:IT, a new program that taps into instagram to connect consumers with retailers through the power of fashion bloggers.

It's so simple, why didn't I think of it? (Um, because I'm an IT nufty who lacks any motivation!)

What is it, I hear you ask?

Basically, you know what it's like when you see a gorgeous dress in an instagram pic and wonder 'where did you get that? Well, now you can not only find out where they got it, but get a link straight through to wherever they bought it. Brilliant!

And the best bit? They're mostly American labels which I've never heard of. It's like opening the door to a secret garden . . . so many brands at your fingertips.

You might have you noticed the little www.liketk.it URLs appearing in the description of some of your favourite instagrammers. This is gold, people. 

But how do you tap into this fabulous new world of online shopping? Super dooper easily, my friends.

The basic steps are below . . .

1. Sign up for LIKEtoKNOW.IT here
2. Like an Instagram photo with a www.liketk.it link at the bottom (ie double tap)
3. Receive ready-to shop product links via email (it'll change your world)

My inbox is FULL of emails from liketk.it,  I'm like a 'like' addict on Instagram now. It's opened up a whole new world to me - a dangerous and potentially expensive world - but a fun one.

Go forth and prosper, ladies xx

40 and fabulous

Do you have some brands you just feel like you've grown up with? They're part of the furniture, your oldest, most loved, classic pieces have their names written all over them?

Well, for me, it has to be Country Road.

Remember the craze at school when everyone had to have a crew neck CR windcheater? And you went the men's style, rather than the women's, it had a band around the bottom and was a much better fit (I had both, I loved them so much!). It started with the good ol' navy and then I added olive green and cream to my collection. I think there was also a mustard and a maroon in the range? Maybe a sky blue?

Or what about CR beach towels? Having a pool in our backyard at home, we've been through our fair share of towels over the years. They are huge, and very absorobent!

And quilt covers. And coffee mugs (a staple for birthday presents for a while there - complete with box of Haigh's hot chocolate and packet of marshmallows).

It was also where I got my first ever job! I was Christmas Gift Wrapper at the Metro store at the end of 2000. I went on to have a casual sales role there into my first year at uni. The discount was great! And the training was a great platform for future jobs.

So I get the warm fuzzies when I see that they're celebrating 40 years this year. I'm not quite of the same vintage, but close, and I just loved this celebration of their 'look and feel' over the past four decades.

I have to admit though - and I don't think I'd be alone - I prefer their playfulness of the 90s compared to their modern approach in the noughties. What do you think?

Play a lovely tuna

Tuna is a poor girl's best friend. That, and tinned corn and lentils and chickpeas. It's amazing what you can do with these staples!

I  must admit though, I am a bit of a tuna snob and do love Sirena tuna. The chilli and oil flavour is the bee's knees - tossed through pasta, in a pita pocket, on a bed of spinach with some sun dried tomatoes, olives and feta - the bomb!

But my clever friend Ad recently introduced me to an all new way to indulge in this pantry item (thanks to Aunty Rach). The best tuna dip ever!

Aunty Rachel's tuna tip

1 can chilli and oil tuna

1 tub spreadable light cream cheese

1 squeeze of lemon juice

2 anchovies (I cheat and if I don't have any in the fridge, I use a splash or two of fish sauce, and I think capers would work equally as well)

Pinch of salt and pepper

Slurp of olive oil

1. Drain the tuna from the oil and chilli - but reserve the oil and chilli for later.
2. Place the tuna, cream cheese, lemon juice, anchovies, S&P and olive oil in a bowl and blend to combine until smooth (I just used a stick blender).
3. Transfer the dip to a smaller serving bowl, cover with cling wrap and put in the fridge to set. About an hour is okay and it's not the end of the world if you don't have time for this step - it will just be a bit sloppy but still taste great!
4. Take out to serve and place the reserved chilli on top, pour over the oil and then sprinkle with dukkah.
5. Serve with pita crisps, bagels, carrot sticks etc.

For Big John

Although I won't be seeing my Dad on Father's Day this year, I know he'll still be as happy as a pig in mud as Port is playing in an Elimination Final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. 

A win over Richmond will mean so much more than any bottle of wine, coffee table book or piece of golfing equipment that I could give!

Happy Father's Day for Sunday, Big John.

#carnthepear #nevertearusapart

How do you celebrate Father's Day? 

I love Dove's approach to Dads this year - check out their video below. It's a gorgeous celebration of the men in our lives.

Gift horse

I have been lucky enough to play a special part as bridesmaid in a number of my friends' weddings (coming up to seven times now . . . but who's counting?) and I've loved every minute of it. I just love weddings, and parties and running with a theme. Any excuse, really!

I think it's a huge honour to be asked to be a bridesmaid but nothing is as touching as being asked to be a Godmother.

I have been Max's Godmother for a couple of years now and he's one big hunk of spunk. He's coming up to three years old and I just can't get enough of him. Remember this little rabbit?

Well a couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be named Godmother to Maxie's little cousin Paige, my dear friend Bree's daughter. She is the sweetest little thing. 

Check her out with her Godparents . . .

The dedication was in the Rads so I didn't bother to lug her present back home for Bree to have to drag it back to Melbs. I headed over for coffee and cake at their place the next weekend to deliver the present - a gorgeous fuschia pink herringbone woollen blanket.

I think Miss Paige was impressed.

Baby/Christening/Dedication presents are hard - you want something sentimental but something that will last. I thought about all the usual options - money box, books, picture frames, charm bracelet. But I was worried she'd end up with three of each.

Yay or nay to the long term present? Or do you prefer gifts that are more age appropriate?

Sunday Collector got me thinking outside the square with a post featuring a doll her sister had bought for her niece. Dumye dolls are dolls with purpose and I just love love love that idea. For every doll purchased they gift an orphan in need and allow them to make a doll of their own through an art workshop. How good!

Other good presents are personalised canvases (a friend painted a quote from Where the Wild Things are for me to mark Max's big day); anything Georg Jensen; animal heads (West Elm do a great collection) or a painting - like something splendid from the oh so talented Pip Boydell.

Bree's sister Kelly (Max's Mum) prides herself on her gifting skills like me (we love it!) and she came across this beautiful present for Paige. May I introduce the Maven Doll range.

Bree's side of the family chipped in for a Mollie - a gorgeous piece to keep for years to come. Isn't she just something else!?

I think we nailed it this time. What do you think?

Bonjour Spring!

The best remedy to a case of the SADs? Spring!

Although I must admit, it has brought on a case of mild anxiety - just where has this year disappeared to?

Does anyone else feel like the year has just flown? I feel sick to the stomach that it's nearly Christmas and I'll be a whole year older in a couple of months. I'm not sure if it's because I'm working in a school or what, but the weeks fly by and I can't keep up. 

I can't even imagine what it's like once you have kids - every milestone must feel like it's in fast forward . . . sitting, crawling, walking then before you know it, driving and graduating from high school. Slow down!

But the small things bring you back. Mum and Dad gave me a gorgeous Kate Spade bangle for my birthday and it's a constant reminder to me: Stop and smell the roses. 

Or ranunculus in this case - don't they just scream Spring to you?

This pic was my fave instagram welcome to Spring yesterday - care of @clarestuart. Isn't it pretty? 

Grab the wallpaper download for your desktop or mobile here.