The cat that got the cream

Then this happened, people!

I am in hysterics, can't stop laughing.

I may not not a THING about finance or economics, but I do know about food. Or I pretend I do.

After the excitement of yesterday's post, the Fin Review got in touch and used some quotes from me for a story about The Fat Duck ballot. I was like a kid at Christmas, talk about media hussy!

Lucille Keen has a way with words, she's a cracker! And she's partial to a strand of pearls, a girl after my own heart!

I'd better just make sure I get picked in the ballot now, that would be totes awkies if I don't make it through! Imagine the follow up story then (although that's more a Today Tonight expose!).

Read the full article here.

Am I daft?

So I did it, and I'm so nervous!

I entered The Fat Duck ballot and am sick with fear that I'll be drawn as a lucky winner.

I'm also like a kid before Christmas - can you imagine if I get picked?! It will be the most exciting day of my life (so far, of course).

The $525 (without beverages) pricetag scares the life out of me, but as my friend Em pointed out, it's 12-15 courses which breaks it down to about $35 per dish. Okay, it's still expensive, but it's also a lot of food and 4.5 hours of pure entertainment.

This article from Good Food justified it for me - I know where my tax return will be going this year!

Has anyone actually dined at The Fat Duck before? I'd love to know if you think it's worth it!

Gulp. It's A LOT of money.

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.