12.31.2011

I bid 2011 adieu and welcome 2012 with very big arms.

I can say unequivocally that 2011 was both the most rewarding and expansive year of my 25 years on this earth.

I wonder what 2012 has in store? I am ready.

Hopefully you all took part in some delightful celebrations! Thank you all for sharing in my days and bringing me the most joy you can imagine. You...family, friends and readers are what make my life what it is.

X

12.28.2011

Daylesford

Weekends are always a welcome break, especially when they involve jetting out of Melbourne for a semi-rural weekend. I'm lucky I have a beyond-thoughtful friend who devised the whole getaway. Back in October an intimate group of 4 chicas in a cottage in Springbank in the county of Hepburn. Cottage comfy. A well executed blend of quaint cottage charm and vintage elegance. 

We were lucky enough to check out both the daylesford farmers market and makers markets. Lunch at frangos & frangos, home-cooked meals partnered with moet. Even our own intrepid journey to a field of sun glazed horses.

Daylesford was a pretty perfect choice for a girls weekend away if you ask me!
X













12.26.2011

a pretty perfect xmas .x. .o. .x.

The Mr and I decided to host our first Christmas gathering at our little cottage in Carlton. It was an easy task; deciding on a big xmas brunch menu, decor and who to fit around our cozy dining suite.

While the Mr really enjoyed planning the brunch menu, my expertise lay in organizing the place settings and center piece for the table. 


Melbourne was very generous with sunshine yesterday morning which meant we could open up all the doors in our little cottage letting in a bunch of natural light and the morning chirp of sweet wee birds. Some very different weather compared to last xmas in London.


 Right before our 6 loveys arrived for some feasting we spent some time exchanging some much anticipated gifts. There were big smiles by the end of opening all the gifts and thanks to my gorgeous Mr I now have a brand new food beater, boxing gloves and a voucher to partake in any cooking class of my choice at the QV markets. yayy. Funnily enough my very thoughtful present from Mamma followed suit with hand written family recipes and a recipe folder to keep them in.



 We feasted..and feasted..and feasted some more. In between filling up our glasses with champagne we thoroughly enjoyed sharing the sub-standard xmas cracker jokes! We were feeling extra festive so everybody was having some fun guessing the jokes.

The brunch was a hit and our friends left with very full tums and tired eyes. We all had the same fantastic idea in mind - to nap! Thanks to the storm that hit we could lie around feeling confident there was nothing better to do than lie in bed as it hailed down outside. After that we went visiting to a friends house where we finished off the evening with a good old fashioned 'drink until you all fall asleep on the couch' affair.

Thank you beautiful friends for making our Melbourne Christmas a memorable occasion.
X

12.15.2011

salvos

Is it just me or do Australians love to shorten just about every word possible (irrelevant of appropriateness)?

So in true Aussie fashion, I present my delightful findings from *Salvo's:



* Salvo's aka Salvation Army recycling store.
 X

12.13.2011

monaco

Monaco's is a treat and a half if I do say so. It's not your typical up-market stylish food store affair, it's more about the personalized service and the rare delicacies at such reasonable prices. Steer clear of the boring old shelf fillers and supermarket items, my advice is to get amongst the various coffee blends, the French patisseries, the store-made olive tapenade. Work your way through the cheeses and the anchovies soaking in brine being salted to perfection. I am lucky enough to work right next door, or rather they're lucky to have the 5 of us keeping them in business! Pop along if you're in the Camberwell area.
X