Wish we were celebrating in New York or somewhere special this year. But no, instead I'm sitting at my desk in cold Melbourne and you're cleaning up Dougall's vomit from the living room floor.
It's become a bit of a tradition that I write a 'birthday wishlist' every year. I even had a friend ask at dinner the other night what was on this year's - she was disappointed I hadn't yet blogged it.
I do feel very smug and self indulged and greedy putting together such a list, but it is fun to imagine what you would do if you had all the money in the world. And we all love a bit of escapism. And {virtual} retail therapy.
So I present you with this year's collection.
What Kate wants for her insignificant 32nd birthday.
I've never spent money on workout gear before - instead settling for Big W homebrand leggings and singlets. But I've been doing a lot more running and yoga and even fit barre and I think it's time I invested in some quality gear. Who knows who I could run into on the Tan?
Strictly Ballroom tickets
I love Baz and I love all things bold and bright. I think this would be fun. Time to embrace some 'culture'
Dirty Dancing tickets
Noone puts Baby in the corner. See above re 'culture'. **Ha, are you laughing that I consider these two things culture? I know it's not ballet or opera or an art gallery, but pop culture is still culture, right?!
New earrings
I get so many comments on my bling so wouldn't say no to adding to my Lady Chatterley's Affair collection. Earrings can really make an outfit - especially when I'm decked out in Melbourne all black.
Champagne flutes
I really want some nice champagne flutes. Those delicate tulip type ones. I have IKEA stems and they do the job, but I'm sick of living like a uni student, I'm turning 32 and I want nice things. I'm just not so sure my housemates can be trusted
#thejoysofhouseshare
#imtoooldforthis
Perfume I'm all out of perfume. All my bottles are empty. And I feel kind of lost, I'm out of whack. I'm typically a Stella McCartney loyal but she's discontinued my fragrance! Devastating. I am a longstanding Romance fan, but the bottle's run dry so I feel like I should mix it up. Opportunity to try something. I've fallen in love with a friend's Jo Malone perfume {can't remember which flavour though} - is it wrong to copy her? I don't see her that often. I've sent a text off . . . stay tuned! **Update - Sophie just messaged me back, it's Jo Malone English pear and freesia. I will be heading in to DJs this week to try it on myself.
A mini break I need a holiday. And not just a weekend back in Adelaide. I love those trips - don't get me wrong - but they're not relaxing and I find them hard. I need to do something new and fresh. Maybe a weekend in Sydney? Or a week in Hong Kong? Brisbane! Shopping, eating and smiling.
A partner in crime.
Mum and I joked at Christmas how it was so refreshing that after all these years, I could finally leave a boyfriend off my list for Father Christmas. It was such a small thing, but I felt so secure. Well friends, put him back on this year. How quickly things change.
*** I've got lunch with the girls on my actual birthday in two weeks time. Two weeks today. Oprah tells me I need to embrace getting older. "You're not the same woman you were a decade ago; if you're lucky, you're not the same woman you were last year. The whole point of aging, as I see it, is change. If we let them, our experiences can keep teaching us about ourselves. I celebrate that. Honour it. Hold it in reverence. And I'm grateful for every age I'm blessed to become." Maybe she's on to something.
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?
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?
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?
So much to celebrate - my nephew's first birthday, one of my dearest friend's 31st birthdays and of course the Port v Bulldogs game at Adelaide Oval. So excited to catch some footy while I'm home, I've heard brilliant things about the ground.
There'll be lots of eating and drinking and cuddles with Dougall (the ferocious dog).
One thing I miss about living in my own home, is the freedom to decorate a shared space in your own taste.
I took great pride in my coffee table stack in my living room in the Rads, but my share house in Melbourne doesn't have a coffee table, nor the support of my housemates to extend my penchant for the colour pink beyond my bedroom.
So I was over the moon when my gorgeous friend Kelly (mother of the world's cutest Godson, Max) gave me the new Adore coffee table book for my birthday. It's pink and it's gold and it's fabulous.
And it's the perfect addition to my little sanctuary upstairs at home.
My friend Melissa and I went along to the launch at West Elm on Chapel Street (eeek, papped above!) and it was lovely to meet Loni . . . and enjoy a glass of bubbles or two. Kelly flew over that weekend and we joined Loni on the Adore Home Shopping Tour around Melbourne.
What a brilliant day we had discovering hidden gems in my adopted home. I was all over the shopping haunts in Radelaide, but out of the loop in Melbourne, so this was the perfect way to get my bearings and find new faves.
Lunch was also delicious!
The highlight for me was Montebello Emporium in Camberwell. Tina, you will love it here! I picked up a gorgeous box of Liberty notecards and they have heaps of Kate Spade stationery in stock.
It was a huge day of shopping and I've made lots of notes of where I want to go back - present shopping will be so much easier now that I've found my feet!
Check out the loot I picked up - and most of it was from the generous goody bags from Adore and Safari Living.
V spoilt.
Thanks for making it an Adore-able birthday, Kelly!
It's May! Hoorah for one of my favourite months of the year.
I love it for a number of reasons:
- My Mum's maiden name is May - May is my niece's middle name (Ruby May, isn't it the sweetest?!) - My birthday is in May - Dad's birthday is in May - There are some gorgeous autumn days in May - It reminds me of New York
- It's Mother's Day and I can disguise something I really want as a present for Mum! (Case and point with the Windsor High Tea Voucher for two I suggested Dad buy her for her recent birthday. It's in Melbourne so I guess she'll have to take me!)
Is that enough?
It's been a whole year since my 30th birthday celebrations with my parentals in New York. How time flies.
The pic above is of me and Mum on the High Line on my birthday (this coming Saturday, people!). Look at us rocking the pink lippy (that one's for you, Tina!). Take. Me. Back.
I love birthdays. I know lots of people who shy away from them, but as Janet on the Real Housewives of Melbourne put it: "Birthdays are great, if you're not having them any more, it means you're dead"
Mensa candidate, that one.
Anyway, I'm indulging in a typically Kate birthday festivus this week. A friend told me I was OTT and expecting too much from my friends, but people, it's a choose your own adventure. Join in as much as you want, or just stay out of my way if you're not in the mood.
In a time of missing airplanes, tropical cyclones and rugby players becoming paralysed, I think a little happiness is allowed. I don't have Valentine's Day, anniversaries, baby's cuddles or simple things like a kiss when I get home from work, so I'm going to cash in on my birthday.
It kicked off on Sunday with a great top of the table win by Port Power. Then I saw Sam and Kochie at Southbank on my Monday morning walk. I made chocolate hot cross bun bread and butter pudding for my housemates on Tuesday night (recipe to come, stay tuned). Then my work birthday morning tea was yesterday. Today is very low key, best sort out something to do. Tomorrow night is birthday drinks with friends and then Saturday is a cracker. My housemate is taking me out for breakfast, then dear Flavs is taking me out for a pedi and lunch. Perfection. Dinner is at a Moroccan restaurant with my nearest and dearest in Melbourne.
So readers (all three of you), please let me have my week of indulgence and self-importance. It's nearly over. You can breathe a sigh of relief.
She's opening her doors tomorrow . . . in Melbourne. Yes, Melbourne. Where I live!
After much anticipation, Emporium is throwing open its doors and welcoming a bucketload of international designers to our shores. Uniqlo, Zoo York and Brooks Brothers are just some of the big names to be settling into my 'hood.
So much fashionable fun to be had in Melbs of late. I haven't even been to H&M yet, and am still in 'tourist' mode whenever I walk through Zara's doors. But Kate Spade? My mecca, my safe haven, my happy place. Only 15 mins away from my office and home. Too much. I'm giddy.
Such good timing with my birthday only two weeks away. Friends and family, you know what to do.
I've left my laptop in the Rads until I head home next - I couldn't fit one more thing in my suitcase. Packing down from a two bedroom place to fit into one bedroom in a share house is hard!
So my posts are few and far between. And hasn't Gemma let me know that!
In the meantime, I wanted to indulge in the fun of my 30th birthday.
Roman Holiday was the name of the game and we had so much fun at Ruby Red Flamingo.
Thanks to Tina from Lady Chatterley's Affair for her styling genius xx
More pics to come when I'm reunited with my laptop ...
Ps. How hot is my necklace?! Thanks to Miss Brown, I now have my very own LCA High Society necklace! Whoop!
So, I'm off tomorrow for a whirlwind trip to New York to celebrate my 30th birthday.
I'm hoping I'll look as glamorous as this on my big day - fingers crossed Kate Spade or JCrew can come up with the goods and deliver a fabulous birthday outfit.
I'll need one for my actual birthday (Friday 3 May, hint hint!) and then one for my party when I get back to the Rads. Oh, and I guess I'll have a Melbourne celebration too, so why not throw in another outfit too?!
Then I think we'll head to SoHo for a spot of shopping and some NY 'downtime' browsing the streets.
We'll have lunch at Dean & DeLuca (Mum appreciates my obsession with the place after growing up with Felicity) and then I'll spoil myself with a Kate Spade bag that I've wanted for years.
The afternoon could do with a little more activity (suggestions, people?). . . but not too much because then we're booked in to Balthazar for dinner. I am SO excited. Bless Mum, she stayed up late last night to ring internationally and book us in - they only open reservations 30 days before each date so we had to watch our calendars carefully.
It's going to be a day to remember, that's for sure!
Any other suggestions to help ring in this milestone? Perhaps somewhere for a nightcap after dinner? Or pre-dinner drink even?
Like, the flight that will take me to my new home where I'll start my new job and find my new boyfriend and experience a new happiness.
Expectations high? Nah!
It still hasn't really set in, the fact I'm leaving the Rads. And my family. And my cute little shoe box of a house.
I've got so much on my mind - a crazy Easter at work, to start with.
Then finishing up my job, packing up my house, starting my new job, heading to New York, turning 30, throwing a shindig of a partay and then crossing the border for good to see what life throws at me.
Oh, and finding somewhere to live in Melbourne. That's not going to break the bank or break my heart.
Most of my friends are turning 3-Oh this year and I'm soon to join the Club in May.
I'm always on the hunt for unique and personal pressies for my friends and family and was so so so excited when the fabulous Pip Boydell agreed to do a commissioned piece for my darling friend Bree's birthday.
I got all the girls from school involved (thanks JB, Gemmal, Kib and Jo) and put in a special order for a peony - Bree's favourite flower and her bridal bloom.
Pip did a phenomenal job. She has so much attention to detail and I love it to bits. It's so beautiful in real life, these pics just don't do it justice (so you can imagine how exquisite is in the flesh!).
Peonies seem to be the flavour of the month with Pip working on another peony recently (third pic down). Aren't they just the most perfect flowers?
Make sure you check out Pip's blog for other examples of her work. I'm saving my pennies for a painting of my own one day.
Thank you Pip, it's a really special gift that I know Bree will love forever x
Happy happy 30th birthday to my oldest and dearest friend Lill.
I think this year clocks up nearly 20 years of friendship and like a good bottle of wine, it keeps getting better and better with age!
Thought you'd love this 30th birthday celebration idea - it's so cute! I would've loved to have done this for you at Wye River this weekend but a blog post will have to suffice . . .
The helium balloons above (all 30 of them) carried a message from a group of the birthday girl's friends.
The girls all got together to celebrate Suzanne's special day and released the balloons into the world to bring happiness and joy to the people who found them tangled in a tree in their backyard or perhaps caught in a bush at the local playground.
Remember doing this as a child? Bless!
A visually much prettier version than a message in a bottle. I love it!
The lovely Pete and Michelle hosted a gorgeous long lunch on their back lawn in celebration of Michelle's 30th birthday last week.
It was stunning weather, great company and perfect food. Not so sure about that orange liquor though Michelle, I'm going to blame that for my killer hangover on Sunday!
The menu included meatballs and bruschetta to start, with beautiful shared antipasto platters and then roast meats with salads to boot - including panzanella, calabrese, fennel and orange, and beans. And then for dessert, a gelati bar.
I've been away celebrating a friend's 30th birthday at the beach this weekend and was intrigued by a story that the birthday girl's work colleague had urged her to read in today's paper.
It was in The Advertiser (might I add, I found it on the Herald Sun website from October 2012 - come on Adelaide, catch up!) and was called . . .
"Turning 30 . . . and so over it"
This is for the girls out there who are in the same boat . . .
What happens when you turn 30 and realise you're not living the life you'd expected?
WHEN Kasey Edwards was 32, she woke one morning and realised she didn't want to go to work.
"And not just on that day, it was like I didn't want to go ever again," she remembers.
For Edwards, a highflying management consultant, who had worked her "butt off" climbing the corporate ladder, the realisation she hated her job - despite the six-figure salary that went with it - was devastating.
"It was shocking because I had done everything I was supposed to do to make me happy and one day I realised that I wasn't," Edwards says.
"And I felt an incredible guilt about it. It was like, 'What is wrong with me?' How dare I be unhappy when I have everything I thought I always wanted.'
Edwards was suffering from what some psychologists have dubbed the quarter-life crisis. That's right. Forget the mid-life crisis that traditionally happens about the age of 45.
These days Gen Y are having a crisis a good 15 years earlier, as they grapple with the feeling that their lives haven't turned out quite as they envisaged. Or that the life they thought they wanted isn't so appealing after all.
For women, in particular, there's also an expectation that by 30 they should have nixed the career/marriage/kids trifecta. And if they haven't, some start to get anxious because things haven't gone to plan.
Melbourne counsellor and psychotherapist Paul Cullen first noticed the phenomenon when he realised that about 70 per cent of his clients were aged from 28 to 32 and "a remarkable number were weeks either side of their 30th birthday".
*********
Shock horror, my 30th birthday is in a couple of months. This Cullen dude could be on to something.
It certainly explains why I've been waking up in the laundry at night for no apparent reason . . .
I love food. I love entertaining. I especially love the colour pink. So The Polkadot Pantry is a collection of all of my favourite things, all wrapped up in a pretty bundle to inspire and entertain.
Magnolia Bakery, steak on the barbie, candlelit dinners, Sunday roasts, Croatian summers, Pimms at the cricket, Notting Hill markets, Maggie Beer ice cream. This is me and the things I love.
