oh bless

Those Olivers are damned good at having babies aren't they? I didn't even realise that Jools was pregnant until Jamie tweeted "It's a boy" last night. Here they are with the new addition. Now, let me say, I LOVE the names the Olivers give their babies, Poppy Honey Rainbow, Daisy Boo Pamela and Petal Blossom Rainbow are now joined by Buddy Bear Maurice.

PS: Have you ever seen little girls look so much like their mother? Bless.

PPS: Once again, I love how Jools comes out of hospital rocking her post-pregnancy tum. None of this tummy tuck after the birth for her. Congrats guys on your delicious family.

shoe fetish

Dita Von Teese just posted this shot on Twitter. Guess whether I'm deeply, madly and truly envious of her wardrobe...

lip service

Nothing says spring or summer more than a hot lip colour. I'm swooning over the orange lip at Marc Jacobs, or this more achievable look at Nanette Lepore. If you're not brave enough for the shocking pink or brilliant orange lipstick, a slick of gloss in a vibrant hue can bring a hint of sunshine to your day. Remember to balance it out with some serious black action on those lashes too.

travelling in my imagination

To take my mind off the overwhelming amount of work I have to do today I allowed my mind to venture into thoughts of what I want to do in Paris. Well, I want to visit the Laduree Bar on the Champs Elysee that's for sure. See that bar stool there? I do believe I need to perch on that - macaron in one hand, champagne in the other.

This time, our third time in Paris, I'm ignoring the guide books. I don't care if it's cheaper to stand at the bar and sip an espresso, I'm going to ensconce myself in a chair right out the front and sip a cafe au lait and people-watch. I'm going to a fabulous bar and sipping champagne and I'm going to dive into the sales and come home with one garment with an Agnes B label in it.

But for today, I'm going to work. Every word I write gets me that much closer to Paris...

best read

I will always choose a book by its cover, and am normally rewarded when doing so {most recent read: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand = pretty damned fabulous inside and out}. So, imagine the gasps, the whooping, the open-mouthed awe when I spied these Penguin hard cover classics with my little eye. Designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith these books would look fabulous anywhere - and you're doubly rewarded knowing there's a good read betwixt those pretty covers. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm pretty sure Amazon is calling my name, considering that the Aussie dollar's nearly equal with the US again...

bbbbbbbbbb busy

Just a quickie this morning as I'm uber-busy and a wee bit concerned I may drown in deadlines... And, as these things go, I also have a sick child home from school. Luckily I'd already packed her lunch so I might just have to pop her lunchbox by the sofa {yes, I had written coach - damn - where's my brain? I shall be needing it today...}

Enjoy your wednesday x

deep desires

I need Michelle Williams' eyebrows and lip-colour from this W cover.

PS: there would also be no saying no to a spot of nuzzling from Ryan Gosling either... just sayin'

cheap tricks

Okay, with planning and booking being in place for our OS trip in only 10 months it's time for a serious lock down on finances. I'm looking to find 10 cheap tricks in 10 weeks to help me save so we can splurge in France. Every dollar spent here is 72 euro cents I won't have to spend. So I'm going to get cheap and I'd like to share my tricks with you.

Now, it's not going to be easy as I'm already pretty frugal. But I'm going to do my best to find some funky ways to save.

Here's this week's trick: pantry cooking.

I'm going to raid my pantry, fridge and freezer and see how many meals I can create without the need for shopping. Tonight's sorted - I've got a tin of red salmon, panko bread crumbs, eggs, potatoes, eshallots, corn, pinenuts and herbs in the window boxes to make salmon patties. I also have sweet potato and pumpkin to roast and serve alongside. And ha, there's some cabbage too...

Tomorrow night we've got dinner guests so I'll buy some beef to roast up a casserole, and I have potatoes to make dauphinous - but I'll see if I can whip up dessert from my pantry {chocolate puddings perhaps?}. Thursday night? Well, I stocked up big on chorizo on coles at the deli - it was half price so I bought four chorizo for just over $5 - I KNOW! I'll make up a batch of potato and chorizo tarts to freeze for my gal's school lunches and will make pasta and chorizo bake with the others {there's always pasta and the makings of a red sauce in the pantry}. Friday night I'll defrost the chicken breasts I froze the other day and make chicken schnitzel with half and a chicken curry for saturday night with the rest. Sunday night will be roast night with yummy stuff from the farmer's markets - that won't change - but monday I'll make spaghetti carbonara with garlic, spaghetti, bacon, parmesan and eggs. How's that? Almost a week's worth of meals and I'll only need to spend around $25 on the ingredients for two of the meals.

Cheap trick indeed.

happy 50th sam i am

Okay, now this is getting ridiculous. It's the 50th anniversary of Green Eggs and Ham! I know!!!

I love this book, it really helped me expand my gal's culinary repertoire. Whenever I was offering her up a new food I'd say, "At least I'm not Sam I Am trying to make you eat green eggs and ham!"

Kids and food are tricky. Oh, so tricky. But it's hardly surprising when you check out how many fusspot adults there are. My gal jokes that I'm just like Maeve O'Maera on Food Safari - I like everything. And it's true, the only food I cannot abide, and it's an obscure one, is Oat Cakes - you know those english biscuits? Erk.

I'm still fighting the battle with my gal to eat green vegies. Every night I'll serve up a small portion of something and insist she gives it a shot {mind you, I'm probably also encouraging her dad to do the same...}. And I'm not offering up limp over-boiled beans. Oh no, the other night it was cabbage with sauteed eshallots and bacon simmered in beef stock {I'd run out of chicken and the beef worked just as well}. Otherwise it'll be broccoli sauteed with garlic, olive oil, lemon and anchovies {smooshed into oblivion - you can taste 'em, but not see 'em}. Or buttered green beans with slivered almonds. Perhaps I should try a few nights of overboiled peas and then she'll be begging for my gourmet greens...

What's your one food loathing?

breaking that fast

If you'd asked me a few days ago if I liked muesli, I'd have answered with a resounding, "Hell yeah". However, should you have pressed me to tell which brand of muesli I liked I would have mumbled a sheepish, "Um, I'm still looking..."

Good muesli is an exacting science. It needs to have just the right amount of plump, chewy dried fruits and crunchy nuts, a hit of flavour and yummy oats. Of course toasted oats are always best - but then again that usually fills them full of fat - so you might as well be having a good ol' british fry up for breakfast.

But now, oh now I've discovered the Holy Grail of Muesli. Apparently it's just had a packaging change and leapt out at me with its box so stylish it deserves a wee glass display shelf all on its own in my kitchen. I braved the Velvety Vanilla flavour, even though I worried it'd have an antisceptic 'vanilla essence' taste. But oh my NO!

This muesli is only half toasted - so you get the delicious crunch, but with way less fat. Crunchy macadamias are studded throughout while plump dried cranberries, coconut and dates provide the perfect accompaniment to a vanilla taste so pure and delicious you'd swear you were supping on a vanilla-bean pannacotta.

This, my friends, is Muesli Nirvana. AND it's Aussie-made. If you're seeking the ideal breakfast allow me to implore you to give this a shot {oh, and it's also available in honey flavoured if vanilla ain't your thang...}

oh happy day

Hey, guess what? It's Roald Dahl day today. To celebrate his birthday let's pause for a moment to reflect on a man with a joyous imagination and the ability to capture it in words and share it with the world. For Matilda, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach and so many more, Mr Dahl, thank you x

sneaky peek

Psssst. You know how I said I wanted to rent a villa in the south of france with blue shutters, lavender, a sweeping drive and a pool. See this? That's our villa - deposit paid and booking taken. Seven nights with two other families {four without the dads while they head off for the Alps in a motor home to follow the Tour}.

Don't worry - I'm pinching myself too!

monday monday

Normally I love living in Australia, except when I hear about fabulous collaborations between designer's and affordable stores. Check out these seriously fierce Mary Janes by Christian Siriano for Payless. Payless! Have you ever seen anything like this at your local Payless? Oh, not I!

Le sigh...

oh what a night!

It's taken me a while to post about the ball, mainly because I spent yesterday, {ahem} recovering. It was quite the night. Firstly, I must say that I'm pretty sure I was on the best-dressed table. All my gal pals looked completely and utterly gorgeous. My fabulous friend Ms G had the most perfectly fingerwaved hairstyle, art deco-esque earrings {$5 from Diva no less} and the most perfect black french lace bolero over her frock. Ms R looked ravishingly beautiful, as always, in a frock with the most perfect neckline the world has ever seen and a smokey eye that would make many a make-up artist weep with envy. Gorgeous friend J looked smoking in a wafty wasabi frock that was made for spinning up a storm on the dance floor. Finally, and I'm saving this one, my glorious friend N won the prize for most covetable footwear. Check out those beauties. Set off with a stunning frock complete with tulle {!} underskirt she flashed those pins with the pride they deserved.

We bid and won on a few auction items, we tend to get a bit overexcited at these events - could have something to do with the amount of champagne consumed by the time the bidding starts. So we're off to another day at the races where we gals shall studiously ignore the horsies, because we're too busy concentrating on our champagne and giggling - and hopefully the husbands will bet smart and help us end up ahead like they did last time.

I did do the glittery eye. Eyes rimmed in a fabulous Mac shadow - delft blue - and then my Make Up Forever glitter pen {clear with multi-coloured glitter} over the top. And oh yeah, I also went with the red glossy lip - gotta rock that drag-queen look. I can't say my pics turned out great - the iPhone's handy, but take great close-up shots it does not. So you'll just have to imagine it - or I'll post a blurry shot later on.

I missed the dancing. Oh, I missed the dancing. There are few people in this world who get as excited about dancing as me and it nearly killed me to not be able to dance. Luckily I couldn't really hear the band because of the sound system, so at least I wasn't tempted by any fave tunes busting out to limp onto the dance floor.

The night reinforced how blessed with are with such fabulous friends. I mightn't have been able to dance, but the night was still a blast thanks to a table of utterly gorgeous people.

floral friday

I'm really starting to get excited about the ball tonight - and have found some inspiration on-line {naturally}. How's this swept-aside hair with ginormous flowers tickle your fancy? It's certainly tickling mine. Hey, if I can't wear skyscraper heels something has to make a statement so why not pretty fleurs?

I've also started slowly deciding on my make-up. Toenails with be painted in a red glitter shade that will set off the grey silk sandals, fingernails in the new OPI rose-gold {loving their range - LOVING} and I'll be doing a smokey eye in a deep blue - with glitter too naturally. I'm pretty sure my glitter-loving days are fast coming to a close, so best make the most of them.

I'll take a shot of the make-up later on for you to have a squizz at - I LOVE playing painting with make-up...

raving about reality

It's no secret that I love reality television. I also love when it throws out gems that are captured and embraced by the mainstream. Which is why I'm in love with Christian Siriano. The moment I spied him on Project Runway I fell deeply in amour, and as I saw his creative genius, well, I moved into seriously besotted territory.

His latest show just took place in New York and would you look at this delicious red crinoline that froths and fluffs for miles. Bliss. I'm also adoring the hair by Antoinette Beenders for Aveda - it's what they're calling a modern bun, brimming with attitude, crimping and fabulousness. Should I try for something similar for the ball tonight? Dare I?

quothe the raven

You know how much I do love an excuse to dress up - so check out this piece of exquisitely fabulous Halloween costume couture I found over at MarthaStewart.com

Magnifique non?

bridal party perfection

Of course! If anyone were to do a wedding to perfection it would be Christina Hendricks. I found this shot this morning, and can't believe that nobody told me she had bridesmaids frocked out in fabulous vintage.

Parfait!

photo face

So, I'm getting my legs waxed this morning, chatting with my beautician about this and that when I'm struck with the realisation that my driver's license was due for renewal. Last month. Whoopsies. Luckily I've been unable to drive for most of that period. So, with legs freshly waxed I tripped off to the RTA, slicking on a coat of red lipstick and some mascara to make myself presentable....

Were you aware there are new rules for license photos? Such as no smiling - eek! Head straight on to camera - double eek. Hair away from face - are you freakin' kidding me? Now, I'm smiley. I like to smile - particularly in photos, you know, it's a sign of friendliness. And the first rule of taking a good photo is never to face front on, you always need to tilt your head - jeez, they let you do that in mugshots {if Paris Hilton's recent is any indication...} And finally, if I can't smile or tilt my head at least let me frame my face with my hair...

So, sigh, I now have a license for five years that looks worse than a mugshot. I had to push my head right to the back of the chair so my neck looks like a rugby player's - noice. At least I had my lovely red YSL lippy and had dyed my hair last night - gotta be thankful for small mercies.

perfectly provincale

We're plotting our OS trip in earnest now. We've got a shortlist of two provincial homes near the Alps for the Tour de France part of the trip where we're sharing with two other families, and now we just need to find a home in provence to share with our sister- and brother-in-law and their two gals. I'd love to find a blue-shuttered beauty like this one, complete with lavender-bordered path. Utter bliss...

studied elegance

Have I told you lately how much I love my study? Oh, I do. And now it's all-but-complete {just awaiting a blind.} I now have a sparkly new chandelier to brighten up my days, rather than a bare bulb hanging on the end of a stick which makes it much better. Sorry about the quality of the desk photo - there's a large window over my desk with only the top pane covered with an antique white tablecloth, so too much light sneaks in and renders the image dark - particularly when it's just a phone photo - but you can get the idea can't you?

I swear I'm working better now I'm in a pretty room...

easy entertaining

I started off my morning earlier than I have in a long time. I had to drive 20 minutes to my 7am appointment for my MRI on my knee. Yep, SEVEN A. M. Thankfully it's over and done with now, and hopefully tomorrow I'll take the film and report to my physio and find out what's actually wrong with my knee.

We've got guests today. Mum's best friend from way back is popping in for afternoon tea, so I'm going to whip up some madelines as a sweet treat. These little French shell-shaped treats are so simple and delicious, and because they're teeny tiny only take around 3 minutes to bake. I'll make a double batch so my gal can take some to school for the rest of the week. I'll make some regular, some rose petal and a few lemon I think. Mmmmmmm.

PS: my squeal-worth moment today? My email saying "Don Draper is following you on Twitter!" Yeah baby!

hot damn mr hamm

Corinne, you've made my day/life/year... Go here for more...

woo hoo shoe

Now, you know I have to attend a black-tie ball on Friday night, and you know that I was inconsolable about having to wear flat shoes {le sob, le sigh} but look what I've found.

Yesterday we went to Morpeth, my first outing in what seems like months {but was only weeks} and in a store my eyes alighted on the first pair of flats ever to elicit a squee from me. One pair, in my size, in a colour so perfect I could cry {I've photographed them on the skirt I'm wearning, and see how beautifully the grey of the shoes matches the grey trim on the skirt? Same material and everything!!!} They've even got a hint of a heel {1cm maybe} so they don't feel totally flat and frumpalicious.

Happy days!

utterly delicious

Lifestyle Food I think I love you for bringing The Delicious Miss Dahl to my screen from Monday September 20. I plan on drinking in every single bit of the six episodes. Doesn't it look so pretty and perfect even in this single shot?

Prettiness!

nine o two one OH

Today, in the US, the date is officially 9. 02. 10. Weeeeeeeeee. I LOVED Beverly Hills 90210. Brenda! Dylan! and all the craziness that ensued. For an hilarious trip down memory lane head over to gofugyourself - quick sticks!

friday, on my mind

So, spring came in, popped its head around the corner to say "hi" and then quickly nicked off - what's all that about? Today's grey, drizzly and just a bit blerk - not what I'm after in a start to the weekend.

I'm off to see the surgeon this afternoon, where he'll hopefully tell me I can be treated conservatively and without reconstructive surgery on my knee. I really am dead over it. I did make it to French last night, to sit at a table mouth agape while I realised how much I missed in just one lesson. Past participles = eeep! Luckily my friend also missed last week's lesson, so we could pull faces and shrug our shoulders at each other whenever something new and scary and unintelligible was mentioned {um, that'd be every single word out of our teacher's mouth}.

Father's day and my mother's birthday on Sunday - guess how organised I am for it? Ouch. I'm going to go shopping with my mum and daughter to buy a surprise pressie for hubby - and let mum choose her own present for her birthday, that's the best option.

So, tell me all about your plans for the weekend. Let me live vicariously x

early arrivals

My gal and I were up bright and early this morning to collect my mum and step-dad who've flown up for the week for a visit - and to help me out. Woo hoo. Although the poor things won't know what's hit them with the mountains of washing {both to-do and to-put-away...}

The gal's having the day off today to recover from her school camp, which coincides just nicely with her grandparents' visit. Hopefully the day will clear up so they can wander down to the beach and do a few fun things. Me? Work. Lots. Best get on with it...

spring fling

How do I love Spring, let me count the ways...

♥ The flowers

♥ The delicate warmth

♥ The promise

♥ The subtle change in the light

♥ The longer days

♥ The chance to change the menu

♥ Flirty frocks

You? ♥

this'll be interesting

Found over at Dlisted.com is this ad that Modern Family took out in Variety. Why yes, that would be the Modern Family who won an Emmy for Best Comedy...

Apparently the local court's already signed off stating that any cast member of Modern Family will not be charged with public nudity. Bets on who'll actually birthday-suit-up?

get OUT

I have no coffee beans and as such am finding it difficult to concentrate on my work at hand and instead find myself re-watching the Emmy's opening {obsessive? moi?} and YouTubing Jon Hamm {obsessive! moi!}

Then I thought I'd best check out net-a-porter for some shoes I can't wear - and found these. Because, really, if you're going to look at shoes you can't wear why look at shoes with a measly 4 inch heel? No, why not go all the way and get sweaty and messy with six-inch Louboutin's that are so gobsmackingly gorgeous there's no need to say "I die" because, obviously, you're already dead.

Delirious? Um, yep, think so...

direct delivery

I'm very excited. Not only have I started off my morning in the best possible way {re-watching the opening Emmy scene - damn, that's happy-inducing} but yesterday I ordered groceries on-line. Bliss. Why didn't I think of this before as I'm house-bound? Who knows...

So today there will be fresh fruit and veg, meats {including free-range pork belly for my gal's welcome home dinner!} and yoghurt. Can. Not. Wait.

I think the worst part of being house-bound is the sheer boredom. Boredom of seeing nobody, but boredom of eating the same damned foods. Dinners have been simple so there's no leftovers for lunch, and my shopping lists for my husband have also been simple so he can quickly dash into Coles on his way home from work. I can't possibly eat another ham sandwich - toasted, pan fried or any way.

Husband has a work lunch so today I'm going back on the crutches in search of Sushi. Hopefully I'll find a nice, close park near the sushi store. My damned knee keeps swelling when I walk on it, so I'm still trying to keep my weigh off it. I'm seeing a surgeon on Friday re: reconstruction of the ligament I tore. I have fingers and toes crossed that I can just do rehabilitation as the recovery from the operation is six to 10 weeks which just seems unbearably long.

In good news it's warming up and my pool's starting to look mighty inviting. I'm looking forward to the swimming to build up the muscles to strengthen my knee - and for the cold water to help reduce the swelling. Bring it on.

Now, if you'll excuse me, there's an Emmy's opening I need to watch again...

be still my heart...

Love Jon Hamm? Love Glee? Love Tina Fey? Prepare to fall deeper and harder after watching the opening of the Emmys.

PS: You may not have noticed {ha!} but I thought the Emmy's this year were a damned fine spectacle. The red carpet rocked and Jimmy Fallon presented perfectly. What more can a gal ask for?

feeling a little skittish?

Love Modern Family? Check out this Emmy's skit. Gold.

oh MAN

Generally I don't care for men's looks on the red carpet - unless they're wearing Tom Ford. Or happen to be Jon Hamm.

Thumbs up indeed.

funny and fabulous

I think Tina Fey is just gorgeous and hilarious and, until today, has never found a dress sufficiently fabulous. Oscar de la Renta for the win. This - is fabulous.

sleuthing success

Whew, finally. Now, I've found three* shots - woo hoo. Christina Hendricks is just so... sigh... In my eyes she can do no wrong. Adore this shade of mauve with her glorious hair and skin. And just a touch of feathers - damn, I do love feathers...

*{yes, I've finished with the postings of more shots. But I just ad to include that last shot as it showed the stupendous detail on the bodice of this dress. Zac Posen, allow me to kiss your feet...}

red hot on the red carpet

Lea Michelle in Oscar de la Renta is one of my favourite Emmy red carpet looks so far. I also do adore Christina Hendricks {surprise!} but do you think I can find a photo of her fabulously lilac frock? It has feathers people - feathers! I will try, oh don't you worry, I will try.

archiles heel

I'm trying to shop on-line for a pair of sparkly, red ballet flats but my eyes just glaze over unless a shoe has a heel. I did find an amazing pair of 'blood orange' flats at Witchery - but look at the shoe that caused my heart to skip a beat. PRETTY!

We were up early to wave our child off at the school gate as she went off on her School Camp at 7.30am this morning. She was happy as she and her friend bagsed the front seat as she'd hoped so she was all smiles and blowing kisses as she drove off. I managed to avoid tears - barely. Here's hoping she has the time of her life.

lessons learned

Finally, finally, FINALLY I watched The September Issue last night. I know, I've been desperate to see it forever, but it's taken me ages to watch it. After posting the Grace Coddington and Anna Wintour dolls yesterday I felt an overwhelming urge to view the documentary, and oh my, am I glad I did.

See, I've read The Devil Wears Prada, and watched the film more than once {oh, the fashion porn!} so I had my opinions of Anna Wintour, which have undergone a rapid reversal. See, my first job on a magazine was under an editor who scared the living daylights out of me. Every day I'd go home crying and wanting to resign. It was awful. Yet wonderful. She might have been a horror to work for, but she taught me so much. She had an eye for news and what works. She was ahead of trends and expected the best from everyone who worked under her - and sometimes the best doesn't come easily. Sometimes the best has to worked, reworked, and then worked again. Sometimes it involves scratching what you've done and starting all over again.

That's what I saw in The September Issue. An editor and a fashion director who expected the best - which is why Vogue continues to be successful. In their world there's no such thing as 'good enough' - it's fabulous, or it's out. I think that's something to strive for.

You know what else I saw - women who looked fabulous at any age. While Hollywood and so many women in the public eye are kicking and screaming their way to the surgeons office to fight off old age at any cost, these women looked cared-for and refreshingly normal.

Grace Coddington was a breathtakingly beautiful young woman and is now still simply stunning. I adore her wild mane of hair and unmade-up face replete with glorious freckles. Anna Wintour has always had a distinctive look underneath the bob and the glasses - but there's more. You rarely see photos of Anna Wintour smiling, but when you do you realise how beautiful she is. Both women seem to have avoided the botox and the fillers so they look really beautiful rather than unreal.

Looking at the shoots Grace directed was humbling. There's a real art to creating fashion images that linger long after the aperture has closed and she manages to ensure that every single image is exquisite and haunting.

Luckily I've got the DVD for a weekly hire - I'll be watching it over and over to imprint it on my brain to inspire me to greater heights every day.

Uh-mazing

Hey doll-face... Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington dolls have been commissioned by Barney's New York.

Damn - I didn't realise it was possible to actually covet doll's hair.

splashing out

Am I now officially in love with pinupgirlclothing? Why yes I am. Do I keep darting back to check on luscious items of clothing even though I have a story due today? Oh, um, yes. However, did I find the world's most perfect red vintage style swimsuit which makes it all worthwhile? Yeah baby.

Now, as my knee rehabilitation process will involve swimming, water walking and water running would it not be a sensible idea to do so in the world's most smoking hot swimsuit.

Wow, nearly deafened by the chorus of "Yes'm" I just heard.

Thank you.

friday's flowers

I love a sweet-smelling full-blown rose. I'm thinking I need to gather a vase-ful for my desl/ Don't you?

flat out

So, I have a ball to attend in two weeks - and a bung knee. Bung knees and heels do not mix. Sad? Yep. Seeking options? Hell yeah. I found these red! sparkly! flats at pinupgirlclothing.com which, as you can imagine had beautiful heels I had to avert my eyes from they were so pretty.

I've also had to revise my clothing options. If I'm going flat I'm also going close to floor-length so my shoes won't be the focus of my outfit {um, yes, I realise that red! shiny! ballet flats won't exactly blend into the background - but you know what I mean...} Luckily I think I'm able to put together an outfit that once accessorised will look utterly ball-worthy. I have a fabulous black Laura Ashley skirt I bought years back that's long, full and has three layers that are bordered by a beautiful pale french grey silk. So pretty. I've also got a lovely Karen Millen Bolero - black, sparkly and bordered with, wait for it, pale french grey silk. Combined with a simple camisole, Coco Chanel-esque layers of beads, great make-up and something special with my hair and I'll be ready to go. All I need is the shoes.

Red? Sparkly? Yes?