for your viewing pleasure

Please head over here if you like your men stylish. Please note the restraint I utilised in not posting a pic of Monseur Depp {but had to mention him anyway...}

schleeepy head

We had friends for dinner last night - much champagne and rich food was consumed. Hence, I'd quite like to be curled up in a bed as inviting as this. However, instead, I'm taking two girls out for the day - they're tossing up between a movie {Princess and the Frog - not, thank goodness that awful Alvin and the Chipmonks - squeaking and my present foggy head would not be a pretty match} or bowling.

Only one week left of these school holidays - I don't know how the Americans cope with a whole summer off. Summer school perhaps?

oh bless!

Chivalry at its sexiest {I always thought that Pacey totally kicked Dawson's ass...}

frill seekers

When it comes to high fashion, particularly for awards nights, I like a bit of razammataz. The plain and the safe can stay at home. I want ruffles, I want glitz, I want to wonder.

That's why the Best and Worst of fashion awards shows always bug me. My Best awards may not go for the perfect frock - they give a hurrah to those who are bold, striking and stick in my mind.

Fashion should be fun. It should be inspiring, and bring out the smiles. If it's so understated that you don't notice it, then, really, what's the point? Frocks should always be fabulous, in my humble opinion...

rolicking good fun

I loved this film soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much. Robert Downey Jr - freaking amazing. Jude Law, his perfect foil. Rachel McAdams, divine.

The plot, the cinematography, the giggles, the adventure. Sublime.

Seriously, you've got to see Sherlock Holmes. Richie's got his mojo back.

gold-plated glamour

Best thing about my migraine hangover today? I got to lay on the couch and watch the red carpet AND the Golden Globe Awards. Ricky Gervais entertained me nicely {My fave line: "I like a drink as much as the next man, unless the next man's Mel Gibson" who then walked out with a bemused expression - take that sugar tits}.

I've chosen an array of frocks above that entertained me for various reasons. Whether it's fabric, design or just all-over gorgeousity. I loved how HARD Chloe Sevigny posed in that gown on the red carpet - seriously, you've got to find footage!

Sadly, I couldn't find a pic of Mad Men's Christina Heindricks to steal. She looked va-va-voom as ever in a peachy, champagne Christian Siriano {Yep, from Project Runway!} frock. Man, her curves take danger to a whole new level...

Tonight I'm off to check out Sherlock Holmes - now that I love RDJ even MORE than I did before. Yep, I'm fulla love after the Golden Globes...

pink! and patent! {not mary janes}

To start off this monday I thought it best to brighten all our days with a splash of hot pink in the ultimate shoe fabric - patent! These little lovelies are from Giuseppe Zanotti and I've held them on my desktop after spotting them on net-a-porter on Friday {yes, after being assaulted by that danged camel purse - am I over that? Hell no!}

I had the migraine from hell last night so couldn't manage to get my eyeballs massaged with Robert Downey Jr's magnificence. Instead I dosed myself up and went to bed at 8.30. Boooooo!

Today I'm feeling remarkably refreshed, with only the slightest migraine hangover. Now I'm all psyched up and ready for the Golden Globes, please let Ricky Gervais be his usual spectacular self and provide me with fits of giggles. C'mon, I NEEEEEEEEEED it...

cooking crush

Although I'm very happily married, I do like to have the odd cooking crush. I need a chef to tickle my tastebuds and my fancy at the same time. I've gone through a few {I'm a fickle lass} but my latest is Manu. C'mon, he's French!

And cute.

And he cooks.

And he has an accent...

I think he'll last longer than my others.

Shall I spill? Okay, well I've always had a spot for Jamie Oliver in my heart. He's obviously passionate about food, his family and his wife. And don't get me started on his humanitarian deeds. He's done some mighty fine work and I won't hear a bad word against him - so don't bother! Jamie and I are now at the old married couple stage - you know, we'll still hold hands crossing the road, but the passion's not at its peak.

Nigella's my babe-fest crush. I think she's utterly gorgeous and I love that I can totally trust any of her recipes to taste delish. Nobody who loves their food like Nigella would dare serve me up a bland recipe. I'm also fond of her taste in decorating and her hourglass figure.

I went through a bit of a bad boy stage a few years back. I'm ashamed to admit it, but for a while there Gordon Ramsay did it for me. He had a pork belly recipe that was succulent, crunchy and oh-my! His chocolate fondants also performed as expected. Then there was the whole mistress scenario and I just totally lost it. We split up that day and I've never given him a backwards glance.

Watching Hells Kitchen UK not only gave me my Ade Edmondson fix but a newfound appreciation of Marco Pierre White {let's not go into the licking of the chef's knife - sigh}. His hair, his gaze, his knife skills {stop it!} were sigh-inducing. However, out of sight, out of mind.

Which is more than I can say for Manu. Shall I be watching My Kitchen Rules? Der! I know it's on free-to-air but this little black duck's going to be sticking post-its all over the house to remind me of the screening time. As soon as they announce it that is...

Ah, Manu, mon petite chou...

seriously sunday

I know it's a sunny sunday, but I'll be sitting at my desk doing a wee spot of work today. Just a couple of hours - enough to finish off the draft of an article due next week. Husband and daughter are off to spend a bit of her shopping money at Westfield {after she'd put aside a third of it for Haiti - bless}. Then our gal's off for a sleepover at her grandparents tonight with four of her girly cousins so tomorrow will be quiet and perfect for getting stuff done.

Later this afternoon I might pop out into the garden and give the roses a summer prune and a feed, they're suffering from the crazy Aussie summer weather {hot, then cold, then rainy, then blistering...}

Tonight I'm hoping to convince my husband to get out to the cinema. I've got a Sherlock Holmes craving that can only be satisfied with a spot of RDJ...

Enjoy your Sunday x

sunny saturday

This is what I shall be doing today. And when I'm not on the daybed with my feet up I plan on swimming. I've finally realised that a body needs some downtime to cope with the busy periods...

Last night we had an excellent dinner with our friends. We started out on the harbourside, sipping pink champagne and chatting before moving inside to peruse the menu. Tickle me chuffed to bits that pork belly AND duck were on the menu. Pork belly and caramelised pear are two exquisite combinations - and when followed by duck confit on a pumpkin rosti with wilted spinach, beetroot jam and a sticky jus... Yum.

We all ordered desserts and kept sticking our forks into each others meals which made us very happy indeed. Good food and good friends are a fabulous combination that we all need to experience.

gold-plated glamour

I'd quite like this here frock to wear to dinner tonight. It's funny, even though I'm a Leo, I don't tend to go for gold or glitz, but today... today I'm in a sparkly mood.

Instead I'll just reach into my closet and find something to wear - and maybe I'll just coat my toenails with a bit of 24 carat glam.

Actually, I think I'll go to town on my eyes. I've got a spectacular azure blue that I'll use to line the upper lashline, taking it just under and around my inner eye. Then, I've got this fantastic golden powder that I'll use under my lower lashes. A fine dusting of a glittery green on the lids, lashings of mascara and a glossy lip and I'll be set. Who needs a wardrobe full of frocks when you've got a make-up kit you're not afraid to use!

belle fleurs

I'm itching for some pretty pink flowers in a lovely jug. I think they'd just about take the edge off the grey sky and the fact that my house needs a serious, serious cleaning.

fine dining

We're off to dinner tonight with friends. We shall be dining harbourside at one of our fave restaurants, Silo. With flocked wallpaper, a massive chandelier and french bistro-esque tables and chairs it's my kinda place.

Our gal's heading up to her grandparents to stay with the English cousins again {girl knows how to wring every moment out of a holiday!} so we're child-free and ready to revel.

Now, if only the pork belly's on the menu I'll be in heaven...

so wrong, in so many ways

Remember that episode of Sex and the City where Carrie and Big had been dating a while and he bought her a monkey-butt-ugly bag in the shape of some kind of bird? I think that's where any residual affection I had for the man died. Seriously. Ugly.

So just now, I'm perusing for pretty on net-a-porter when what should assault my eyes but this. This, my friends, is a Judith Leiber Camel Gobi fine crystal-embellished clutch. Or one big hunka ugliness.

Anywho. Guess how much it costs. Go on.

Nope, higher.

Seriously, higher.

And again.

Dude, you're not paying attention - this here's a crystal-encrusted camel.

...

It's four thousand and ninety seven POUNDS and seventy one cents.

That's nearly a new car in Australian dollars.

Nope, you can't put a price on taste...

tea time!

Obsessed?

Moi?

busy, busy, busy

Sparse post today - much to do. Sorry for my lack of comments today - I have things to say {Beth!} and will do so when I've knocked off a couple of essentials {you know, writing up that piece with the difficult interview subject - would you believe it's being, um, difficult}.

We had a monumental storm last night, haven't even had time to survey the yard for damage. But at least everything's greening up nicely!

Later, I'll post again later - and will also be posting on my other blog {a-ha, did you know about that one? Sara Rose and Melissa found it - even before I started writing on it}.

Kisses.

colour me pretty

I'm working late tonight, mainly so I can spend some time with my gal tomorrow. But I'm in a damned fine mood. I feel as content as Mme Antoinette here with her stack of macarons. {Oh, that movie, I'm in need of a pretty-fix...}

Hey, did I tell you my news? We're off to Paris next year. Yep, Paris AND Provence. I KNOW! We'll head over in July, spend time in England with the family, then husband's catching up with a few buds to take in the Tour de France, then he and I will spend a few days in Paris. Did someone say Michelin star dining? Hell yeah! Our gal offered to stay in England with the cousins {and her aunt and uncle} while husband and I have some serious Paris moments. Bless. It'll also be the year of our 10 year wedding anniversary {and we'll be there for the 18th anniversary of when we met - I KNOW!!!!!}

Then we'll spend a week in Provence with our gal, the cousins and the sister and brother-in-law, back to the UK - and I think I may well be shopping. Then dropping.

So excited - hence burning the midnight oil and working. A gal's gotta pay for Paris somehow...

happy daze

Phew, last night was hot - damned hot. The cool change that normally kicks in when the sun goes down refused to raise even so much as a toe towards kicking in. So that meant a restless night. However, surprisingly, I'm feeling refreshed and ready to get on with the day.

One interview to do and then I'm free to climb rock walls with the gals {who, adorably, made their breakfast, and their bed, unpacked the dishwasher and are now hanging a load of washing - cuteness!}.

We're packing so much adventure into these school holidays that I'm pretty sure that even my school-loving miss isn't really missing school too much.

Best investment ever? The pool. My gal had seven swims yesterday and I had two - even tied my hair back tightly and did a few laps of fast freestyle {rather than my usual slow breaststroke}. Husband spent the day top-dressing the lawn in the courtyard {stinky much?} so it should be looking lush and green in just a few weeks time.

some kind of wonderful

More than happy for the days to keep zooming by when it brings me ever-closer to this...

summer lovin'

Hi, how's your Tuesday going? Mine's speeding along! Trying to get an abundance of work done today so I can go indoor rock climbing tomorrow with my gal and one of her bud's who's having a sleepover tonight. Fun!

How cute are these icecream popsicles I found on marthastewart.com? Let me tell you that they're being made next time we have a family with kidlets over to dinner {when I get my entertaining mojo back - oh where, oh where can it be?}

Think I need a quick swim to infuse me with enough energy to get my afternoon's work done - and to help my poor ol' body recover from a hot, sweaty, hectic game of netball last night {yep, we won 36 - 13 - not bad for old chooks!}

shiny shoes on a grey monday

Guys, I'm moving Shoe of the Week to Monday - is that okay? The theory is that we all need something pretty to propel us through the blah-ness that is the start of the week. So this week, Marc Jacobs is having a shiny moment, and oh, me likey.

Nothing's more practical than a wedge - seriously, they're virtually flats they're so comfy and sturdy. But comfort doesn't have to equate with frump. Oh, my, no. So instead, this week comfort's all about the shiny, the silver and a spot of glitz.

For you. Cos I love you.

happy mondays

Well I don't know about you, but my weekend flew by - even though I started in on Friday! Coming down with a lurgy on Saturday didn't help - it made me spend all day yesterday lolling on the couch {although I did catch up on mucho Jamie and Giada at home}.

Cake was baked: Nigella's sour cream and chocolate and, I beg of you, if you're a fan of chocolate cake, please bake this one. It seems so thick and non-liquid pouring it into the tin, but the texture and taste is exquisite. Oh, and in the KitchenAid - super easy.

Last night I was feeling up to eating, but not cooking, so as a dear friend had my gal for a sleepover hubby and I went pub-hunting for dinner. We ended up going to the newly refurbished Delany Hotel in Darby Street. Oh my.

Duck-fiend husband had confit duck, green beens, caramelised pear and potato dauphinous. To-die-for. He thinks it may have been one of the tastiest ducks he's eaten {and considering that he and a friend have been doing 'a duck lunch tour of Newcastle' for a few months now, that's a call}. I had a gorgeous hunk of steak, perfectly-dressed salad and frites. Oh, and did I mention the bernaise sauce? Oh yeah. We came home and polished off a piece of my leftover cake for pudding. Yum.

After two scorchers the sky's grey and is threatening rain - which is fine, I'm up with all my washing. I'm also sitting glued at my desk, frantically calling around to find interview subjects for a very difficult story I'm working on. If I can do this one, I can do anything.

Enjoy your monday!

lazy sundays

Damn, I'm having a lazy day today. I was stricken with some weird virus thing yesterday - probably just all the pent up craziness of December/Jan bursting out of my system.

So today I'm listening to my body and resting it. If only my kitty-cat could be bothered to strum a ukulele to lull me to sleep. Lazy critter...

d-lightful

Getting a little vitamin D can boost your mood. So go on, it's a gorgeous day out there - get out and enjoy it!

happy weekend

It was the rather fabulous Mr Bowie's birthday yesterday. Sigh, does that man have beautiful bone structure or what? So this weekend, I'm going to chill, and do what Bowie would do.

That'd have to be something cool right?

pretty impatient

So there I was, casually browsing "what's new" on net-a-porter when these leapt out and took up residence in my retina. Seriously, would you expect me to save these till next week's shoe of the week?

Of course not. So now, for your viewing pleasure, what are quite possibly the perfect pair of pumps. Silver, python, peep-toed and scarlet-soled. Oh Mr Louboutin, you'd do anything to weave your way back into my heart wouldn't you just?

friday fabulosity

Guys, it's another week coming to an end - looks like twenty ten will be moving with the same alarming speed at 2009...

My gal's at a playdate with a buddy today, so I'm hunkering down to get three days work completed in one. Last night we had a crowd for dinner - the largest group I'd cooked for {I'm still doing baby-steps - entertaining one family at a time}. Last night we had father- and mother-in-law, sister- and brother-in-law, two nieces and a friend of the British who was visiting from the UK. A bbq, roasted potato salad and green salad and lots of baguettes filled everyone before finishing off with a lemon delicious pudding and lashings of vanilla bean ice cream. Mmmmm.

Tomorrow night we're off to another sister-in-law's for bbq - with the whole family attending. I'm making a massive dish of potatoes dauphinous and a big chocolate cake for all the girls with December/January birthdays to share {I'm thinking Nigella's chocolate sour cream cake - what do you think?}

But now I'm going to brew myself another coffee and sit down and work, work, work, work, work. Might do some whistling while I'm at it too...

zombies make funny

If you want to laugh, and don't mind a bit of zombie humour, then go here. The last part in particular is so cute and giggleable. Go on.

red hot

There's always a time for a pair of lipstick red heels. These Marni pretties look like the ideal pair to wear while off lunching with the gals.

It's raining again today, sigh. I shouldn't complain as I managed to get all my washing done - except the two sets of sheets I washed last night... Oh well, I'll string up a line under cover somewhere.

Hey, I'm thinking of something radical. Not replacing my broken clothes dryer. Realistically I only use it in emergencies - and maybe I don't even need it then. I think I'll wait and see...

soap stars

I'm a fan of reality tv - and a huge fan of cooking programs, which is why I'm rather keen on some Top Chef action.

However, the other night I had a revelation of the non-culinary kind. See, at the end of a shift the chefs were scrubbing down the stainless steel bench tops with soapy water, then polishing it with a dry cloth.

Genius.

I have a stainless steel bbq {monster that it is}, stainless steel dishwasher and ss oven and cooktop. All of which have driven me crazy in the search for a polished and clean surface. In the olden days when I had a cleaner she swore by a $7 bottle of specialised stuff, but I felt it left streaks and never really satisfied me in the cleaning stakes.

So tonight I squirted some dishwashing liquid into a bowl of hot water, grabbed a cloth and an old linen tea towel and set to work on the bbq. Within a few minutes it was shiny and cleaner than it's ever been - and I swear I spent less time on it than I would with the specialised cleaner.

Soap and water, you rock.

food fight

I've mentioned before that I've lost my cooking mojo. What with the whirl of December zooming by, Christmas, birthday parties, activities... I got out of my regular weekly meal planning and into a daily buying tizz. Of course this has two side-effects.

Firstly, the hassle. Deciding what to cook on the day sucks. It's taxing, it's stressful and never as effective as if you'd planned.

Secondly, it's damned expensive. Whether it's a frantic dash to the supermarket, or quickly ducking in to buy the world's most expensive head of garlic {at $5 this one had better be damned good} this is an expensive way to eat.

So today I was uninspired till I watched Nigella whip up lemon and garlic chicken. Yum. So I walked up to the organic shop to buy two unwaxed lemons and that gold-plated head of garlic. Next, I walked in the opposite direction to the butcher - where they had no free-range chicken, and only breasts or thighs with no skin. Pointless. This recipe calls for slow roasting and crispy skin - seriously there's no point to chicken without crispy skin {except for poached - that I'll allow}. Then I pondered the meat cabinet for, oh, I reckon a good 15 minutes...

Ditherer.

Now I'm slow roasting an easy carve leg of lamb that's studded with slivers of the world's most expensive garlic and slivers of anchovies. I'll serve it on a salad and bedazzle it with some pomegranite seeds.

Next step is formulating a meal plan for tomorrow on. Which shall, of course, include Nigella's crispy-skin chicken.

and breathe

I'm surrounded by silence today. My husband's returned to work, and our gal is at her grandparents after a sleepover last night.

I've got loads of work to get through, so I'm planning on ploughing through it as quickly as possible. I do also need to vacuum and mop the floors. Parties, cake making, lots of swimming and entertaining have left a patina, quite a thick patina {or maybe that's just crushed up potato chips...}

My thoughts are with one very special person today. I know that bad things do happen to good people, but seriously, how much are some people meant to take? I normally try to look on the bright side, but why are there so many horrid people out there who get through life okay, while those who try and deserve so much just experience blow after blow?

We're on the opposite sides of the world, so I can't do anything except send love - lots and lots of it. xxx

blue sky dreaming

Oh my word, today we awoke to pristine blue skies. Real Aussie summer shades of azure. I felt my mood rise instantly. Isn't everything more achievable on a lovely day? It probably helped that I had a great night's sleep on my fresh, crisp sheets...

We've got the cousins all day again today. Bliss. We had a lovely bbq dinner last night on the back veranda, the girls played red rover cross over and what's the time Mr Wolf in the front garden, and swam of course. Bedtime they all bunked down in my gal's room and even the last recalcitrant child {who needed a drink, lost her toy...} was asleep by 9.30pm.

Breakfast is now complete and Hello Kitty colouring pages have been printed out. The girls will gather on the back veranda to colour and afterwards we'll all go for a swim.

I'm feeling recharged and ready to get into the new year. After the hectic nature of Christmas and New Year I was all entertained out - but a few days of rest, walking every day and eating food to nourish my body have rejuvenated me.

Time to send out a few dinner invitations I think. After all, I've got my Mastering the Art of French Cooking to work through - and a KitchenAid that's just begging to make some puddings.

oh-so-crisp

It didn't rain today and by the afternoon blue sky had broken through the ever-present clouds. So tonight I've got freshly laundered sheets all crisp and white to go on my bed.

Pretty sure that sweet dreams will follow...

sleepover club

In a few hours my sister-in-law will be dropping off our two nieces so we can babysit while she and her hubby enjoy an overnight stay in a beach resort down south. Guess how excited my daughter is at the prospect of well-over 24 hours with her cousins? Yes, very doesn't do her excitement justice.

So I'm going to attempt to squish in a little work before they get here. And then, this week I promise to get onto some lovely, lovely, lovely awards I've been given - and to give them out to some spesh peeps!

Enjoy your monday, hope it's productive. I know ours is going to be filled with giggles galore!

awash

Okay, am now so completely and utterly over this rain. C'mon! I've got a ridiculous amount of washing to do, and now my dryer's decided to cark it on me. Normally I'm a dry in the fresh air and sunshine kinda gal - but there's been none of that and even hanging clothes under cover isn't working as the air's so damp.

Sigh.

Do you think that these Marc Jacobs wellingtons would ease my woes somewhat?

The new calendars are up. My planner's sitting on my desk at the ready and I've got an optimistic attitude for twenty ten {aside from this relentless rain which isn't helping decrease my mountains of washing.}

I've currently got a head-ful of hairdye as you can't have a fresh start with a skunk-like streak of white in your roots {black hair and grey roots - not a good look}.

We'll spend a bit of time getting the house back in order today, but I'm thinking that a spot of laziness is on the agenda.

Tomorrow we're off to a friend's house - mothers and kids at least - while the dads go out for a few drinkies and a meal. We were discussing with our in-laws how lucky we've been at our daughter's school that she's found special friends - with parents we're thrilled to call our nearest and dearest. I'm not sure what we're taking - aside from champagne and swimmers for the kids. Let's hope this rain eases a little by then!

new year new shoe

I intend on being a wee bit infatuated with all things french this year as I immerse myself in the language to become somewhat proficient.

Hence, I had to start the year off with a classically French pair of shoes.

Jolie, non?

Hands up who thinks I need to buy myself a pair of these when I'm next in Paris?

That'll be a consensus then...

sooooo sleepy

One can hardly resolve to blog every day and head off to bed un-blogged! Will you forgive my tardiness if I tell you it's been one very full day? Got up, fed children, tidied errant champagne bottles, packed for picnic, drove 45 minutes to picnic location, picnicked with family for a few hours, came home, swam and helped the British depart, put over-tired child to bed, ate a piece of leftover pudding for dinner, chatted with husband... and realised it's bedtime.

So here's my first post for 2010, posted a mere few minutes before midnight. Hope you're all diving into the new year with gusto. Let's catch up tomorrow shall we?

happy new year

Happy New Year's Eve everyone. What are your plans for tonight?

I've got French bubby chilling in the fridge and plan on whipping up some tapas this afternoon.

For the New Year I resolve the following:

* To do everything with gusto and with a smile on my face

* To feed my imagination

* To nourish my body

* To celebrate my friends

* To love my family

* To keep on doing what I love to do

* To save for my next trip to Paris in 2011

* To study really hard at my Alliance Francais lessons so I'm fluent in French on our travels

* To blog every day and love doing so

Happy new year everyone - hope you have a fabulous one

birthday baby

It's my gorgeous gal's 10th birthday today. She's enjoying spending the day with her cousins and playing with the wii fit she received {as is her father!}.

I made Nigella's American breakfast pancakes for breakfast in the KitchenAid this morning - is there anything that machine can't do? Light, fluffy pancakes were the reward...

Once everyone gets sorted we're off to Blackbutt - a nature reserve a few suburbs away which features plenty of bushwalks and loads of native animals - something the British cousins will enjoy.

Then it's back home to make the angel food cake before heading out to dinner tonight.

Phew. Busy day!

PS: I just had to use this shot of my gal and Mulberry. He's a gorgeous cat but quite possibly the world's most unphotogenic creature. Despite having massive round amber eyes he always squints when having his photo taken. Luckily his fluffy tummy always looks gorgeous!

blog business

I've mentioned before that I've found my blog handy for recipe filing and it's been a big help. As I've mentioned, we've got the relatives coming to stay today and I'd planned on a bbq for dinner tonight - but last night they went to my other sister-in-law's and had a bbq there, and I'm not a fan of doubling up.

So my husband suggested coq au vin and a complete french theme, which I got very excited about - until I realised that sister-in-law doesn't eat bacon in any form {I know! What is she missing}. Well obviously I can't make coq au vin without my lardons, so it was back to popping on the thinking cap.

Then I remembered Ina Garten's chicken pot pies - magically delicious little numbers that'll suit everyone - but then I remembered that I'd tweaked it. Luckily I did blog about it so I had to search through my archives to find it {thankfully I'd titled it damn fine chicken pot pie so it wasn't too hard to find...}

Is there an easy way in blogger to group topics? I'd love to do that with my recipes. Maybe my new year's resolution could be to become a touch more technically adept.

I'm making creme brullee for pudding - very excited to create this in my kitchen aid. My cream beauty had its first workout yesterday whipping up a rather delish chocolate cake and my word, does it make life easier. I can't wait to whip up the angel food cake and white frosting tomorrow. Wish me luck.

tapas time

We have the british relatives coming to stay with us for a few days from tomorrow - so I'm busy devising menus. My sister-in-law only eats chicken and fish, brother-in-law is an extremely omnivorous soul, niece one only really eats meat and niece two really only eats vegetables and fruit {and PUDDING!}.

So, the nieces could conceivably share a meal, bro-in-law will eat what we're having, while I'll be thinking of white-fleshed dishes for sis-in-law. Tomorrow night I'll do a bbq - with a few interesting salads and some bread. Wednesday night is our gal's birthday so we're all headed out to a restaurant for dinner. Easy. Thursday night's New Years Eve so I thought I'd do tapas.

So far on the list I've got:

Garlic prawns

Lime and pepper squid

Fried haloumi with lemon and chilli

Sauteed chorizo

Potato, onion and capsicum tortilla

Lamb meatballs with spicy tomato dipping sauce

Of course there'll be olives, bread and dips.

And something sweet to follow - little lemon tarts perhaps?

Oh, and did I mention champagne?

Also, my husband has indulged his inner-bloke and there's a Heineken keg in the bar fridge in the pavilion.

Fun is bound to be had by all...

bloomin' marvelous

Finding just the perfect pillow to accessorise the bed, without looking OTT or just being damned annoying is a difficult task. So yay to my hubby who bought me this perfectly petaled pillow for Christmas. Obviously, being from Laura Ashley, it coordinates beautifully with my linen {um, also from Laura Ashley...}

Now, if that's not impetus to make the bed every day I'm damned if I know what is!

glamour granny chic

It's been raining for a few days straight here and the rain does nothing more than make me feel like hibernating in a good, comfy cardi!

So, imagine my delight when I spied with my little eyes this comfy grey cardi embellished with pink, white and black sequins! Zac Posen, you're a wee bit of a legend...

chicken crackers

Hey, you know how I made Chicken Christmas Crackers for Christmas Eve {well, that's it, I've used up all my Cs...} well they were rather yum, so I thought I'd best share how I made them.

I couldn't find the camera - but they looked somewhat like this - except with more of a twist at the end!

Now, you know me, I don't really measure. This here's an approximation of a recipe. Personally I never think you can have enough lemon or pepper - but adjust it to your taste and enjoy. Seriously, they're yum.

500g chicken mince

3 diced eshallots

2 cloves garlic, diced

grated rind of one lemon

chopped fresh parsley and tarragon to taste {I probably used 2tblsp each}

1/4 cup slivered almonds

1/4 to 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs {or fresh if you don't have panko - but please buy some}

1 egg

salt and freshly ground pepper - lots

1/2 cup of melted butter

filo pastry

Preheat oven to around 180 degrees celcius and grease a couple of trays.

Mix all ingredients except filo and butter in a bowl till thoroughly combined.

Cut the filo pastry in half, then take two sheets, brush one half with butter and fold so you have a rectangle. Grab a little filling and form into a sausage shape and place in the centre - leaving about 7cm or so at each end. Brush butter on one side and roll up so you have a long cylinder. Grab each end right where the filling ends and twist so you have a christmas cracker. Place this on a tray and brush with butter.

Continue till all filling's used up.

Bake for around 10 minutes, till golden, then turn and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes. Check the filling's cooking by giving it a squeeze. If it feels firm, that means it's setting nicely.

Take out and serve - ideally with a sweet chilli and lime dipping sauce {or you could leave it at home on the bench - up to you}. To make the sauce combine 2/3 sweet chilli sauce and 1/3 lime juice - preferably from a bottle - easy peasy. This is also my preferred dipping sauce for salt and pepper squid and rice paper rolls - doesn't get easier.

Of course, now it's christmas you don't need to make these in a cracker shape. They'd make ideal nibblies in little triangle form, or even as a little lolly size - you know, a ball and then rolled at the ends. Perfect!