I've been turning a fetching shade of green due to envy a bit lately. Reading my friend G's facebook status updates have me being infused with emerald as she's currently in Paris with her hubby enjoying champagne, culture and far too much fabulous food. Bliss.
I'm pretty forgiving of a film if it offers something for me to sigh over - particularly house-po*n. Last night I finally got around to watching It's Complicated and realised that nearly every film that has a house I lust over has one thing in common Nancy Meyer. Seriously, check out this blog that has an extensive list of Nancy Meyer films and gorgeous interior images from them.
If I were a movie star, or a rock star, and somebody told me they were making a doll version of me I'd squeee. Yep, I'd be damned excited. But what happens when you get that weird doll that looks nothing like you?
Last night we had some lovely friends over to dinner. It was one of those perfect nights. Everyone was relaxed, happy and in holiday mode. We sat up in the pavillion while the kids swam, and then, once it was dark we moved down to have our dinner on the back veranda while the kids ate inside and watched a DVD. Then, at about 8.30 the kids asked if they could go for another swim and we said "Why not?" and turned on the pool lights, and moved back up to the pavillion. 
How glorious are parrot tulips? Watching The Tourist the other night made me remember how much I adore this flower. It also made me realise that Venice is a spectacularly beautiful city that I really do need to visit again. Another realisation: Johnny Depp is not always hot {I know! Wash out my mouth!}. Finally, Angelina Jolie - really needs to eat something. She's always been uber-thin, but she was distractingly so in this film...
So, apparently they spent new year's together - and the rumour train totally has them together. I'm with that. I love Sandy, and while I do have issues with Ryan's often obvious foundation {dude, match your skintone and BLEND} I think they'd have fun together.
Blake Lively is the new ambassadress for Chanel Mademoiselle Handbags. Best. Job. Ever. Seriously, free handbags and you get to hang out with Karl - surely that'd provide dinner party anecdotes for a good 700 years or so...
I don't know about you, but I often truly, deeply believe that if I have just the right piece of equipment I'll be better at something. Take this Cath Kidston tea towel. If I owned this I wouldn't leave any washing up 'drying' on the sink for a couple of days... Nope, my sink would be consistently pristine.
Oh, I do have me a hankering for some delicious pancakes topped with berries. Have a look at these pretties I saw over at martha stewart - scrumptious!
We're getting back into entertaining this week - hurrah! So here's what we'll be eating this week.
The first shoe of the year has to be pretty ridiculous don't you think? So these Versace numbers fit the bill. Despite their outrageous platforms - I think the colours and the straps on top are divine. Plus, they'd finally take me to the height I feel I deserve to be {actually, by the look of them, they'd take me over 6 foot!}.
Why is it that putting the Christmas tree up is accompanied by carols, good cheer and big smiles, while putting it away is always a far more subdued event. I think next year I'm going to make the taking down of the tree a far more festive event - and do it with songs, champagne and a true sense of welcoming in the new year.
Like many, I'm not a fan of the new year's resolution - however, the new year plan I like very much indeed. I like having goals, and working toward them. It's always baby steps, which is why goals kick the ass of resolutions - resolutions are all "I will do this" whereas goals are "I'm moving toward this..." much better. 
No matter what you're doing this evening, I hope you have a lovely new year. Can't wait to catch up with everyone in the new year!
It's our gorgeous gal's 11th birthday today. For 11 years we've been blessed with the most beautiful child who has the sweetest nature to match her gorgeous face. She's full of cuddles and giggles and fills our hearts with joy every single day.
The doyenne of pink has a few wise words on how to enjoy the New Year festivities - and they still ring true. Pop over here and have a read.
Can you believe that this is the kitchen in the apartment we didn't rent in Paris? I know, it's spectacularly gorgeous, and I'm totally copying it in my home one day {ps: this apartment had black and white striped bedroom walls and the most incredibly gorgeous white, wingbacked, buttoned, leather headboard over the bed - to die! - but I love the apartment we're renting more. After all, who cooks in Paris?}
When you're staying in Paris, you might as well make it as amazing experience as possible don't you think? That's why we went all out and decided to splurge on a two bedroom apartment. See this pretty in pink room in the last two shots? That'll be our gal's room. And see that view down onto Rue Saint Honore? Yep, that's from our living room. And I'm still pinching myself that we'll be in Paris on Bastille Day. Fireworks AND the Eiffel Tower? Oh, I'm dying...
Ooooh, we're doing some rather wonderful de-cluttering here at the moment. It started accidentally, on Christmas Eve when we couldn't find our gal's Santa sack. It just had to be in the linen closet - so I ended up throwing out every single towel and sheet in an attempt to find it {before remembering that I'd put it on my wardrobe so I wouldn't have this problem this year. Whoops}. But at least that left bare shelves that I could wipe down with lavender oil, and refold all the towels and sheets that got into a tangle. I ended up rewashing all the sheets, and now they're all organised and Martha-esque in categories of single, queen and blanket. Beautiful.
Oh, this is that odd time of year isn't it? Surely you should still feel all festive, you know, gearing up to new years and all. Instead, it's kind of like some limbo-land. Certain businesses and cafes close, people are in holiday-mode, while others {such as myself} are still working. 
I won't be posting for a few days so I just wanted to wish you all the merriest of Christmases and a rather fabulous new year. xxx
We're nearly there! Only two more sleeps!! How's your festive season treating you? Mine's treating me to a wee bit of a hangover this morning after a few too many champagnes last night, "t'is the season..." And apparently I decided to sleep by tying myself in knots - or at least that's how I feel this morning. But a good night was had by all, and a few more good nights were arranged. Got to be happy with that.
Obviously not a great deal is cooking this week as it's nearly Christmas {squeee!} . However, this year I'm determined to be organised and ensure we actually have food in the house for Boxing Day {I always forget, and as we have Christmas lunch and dinner at my in-laws we have no leftovers}. I imagine there'll be plenty of liquid refreshments on offer, so here's what I'll be whipping up.
Excuse me, but have you ever seen a more divine Christmas setting?
Well the weather mightn't be what we'd expect for this time of year, but today was what is known in the trade as "A Good Drying Day". Bright blue sky, a little warmth - and winds - lots of wind.
T'is the season for fabulous footwear non? I am seriously in love with these hot pink Miu Miu numbers as they'd be the perfect accompaniment for the lipstick red frock I'm planning on wearing on Christmas day. And then I spied these Diane Von Furstenburg pretties and just imagined them with a full-skirted little black dress - divine non? This is a colour I absolutely cannot wear - with my olive skin it makes me look dreadful, but on the feet, well, surely I could get away with that.
Not having a camera at the moment means that I'm missing out on a lot of shots. The iPhone camera's great, but in low light it's lacking a flash. That meant I'd missed a focussed shot of the interior of the rainbow cake. Luckily there was a teeny, tiny sliver left and I snapped this for you. Yes, ideally it would be styled on a pretty cake plate with a teeny fork, but you'll forgive the rather rustic background of my well-worn chopping board won't you? After all, the colours are soooooo pretty!
Have you tried the Etsy Taste Test yet? I did and look what it decided I'd like. Yes, thank you Etsy I do like this very much indeed.
If there's a birthday cake guaranteed to bring out the ooohs, the aaahs and the 'awesome' it's this. Our rainbow cake with white royal icing {and a hundreds and thousands 'rainbow' on top} was a smashing success. I found the recipe over at not quite nigella and I must send her a big thank you. It was a simple butter cake coloured with gel icing {very important - these are vivid colour yet don't affect the taste or texture of the batter}.
My hydrangea from last year is still kicking on. Still teensy, but it does have flower heads {these are from last year}. Hopefully a bit more love, water and sunshine and they'll take off.
At this time of the year I tend to get a bit reflective when I have a spare moment. There's nothing like Christmas craziness to make you assess what's important. Last year, when I was frantic around Christmas I asked myself a question, "If I don't do this will anybody cry or die?" if the answer was no, then obviously it wasn't worth bothering myself over.
Well, it's 5.45am and I'm just back from dropping my parents at the airport. What a lovely week's holiday we've had. Sure, I was working while they were here - but at least I got to have coffee and lunch breaks with them which I wouldn't have if I were working in an office. After a week of functions, picnics and outings it's time to get back into some form of reality. Here's what we'll eat this week:
How are you going with the Christmas craziness? Today's our last day of school, and last night we had the school christmas concert {which was just adorable}. I think I'm all prepared for my gal's birthday party Friday night. I've ordered the Sushi platter, I'm going to buy in some honey soy chicken wings {Christmas is nothing if not a time to be realistic}, and we've bought the gift bags, complete with rainbow coloured nailpolishes. Thursday night will be cooking night when we'll bake the rainbow cake {yes, I'll post pics} and make the pesto and cheese and the pizza pinwheels. 
Wow, now that's what I'd call a weekend. Our lunch for our friend's 30th was amazing. The venue was divine - and the food! We started off with zucchini flowers stuffed with a ricotta and heavenly truffle mixture, which were then encased in a seasoned tempura batter and served on a bed of wilted bitter greens. Divine. Then we had mahi mahi fillets, perfectly cooked, accompanied by rosemary and garlic roasted veg and an incredible 'coleslaw'. Mmmmm. The meal was finished off with a delicious pear and ricotta tart. Oh yes. Then we kicked on at a very fashionable Surry Hills pub, spied a few MasterChef alumni {Adam, bless, Callum, bless, and Matt, um, not so bless. Seriously, dude, sunglasses after dusk?}. We kicked on till close enough to midnight to satisfy and then wandered back to our hotel.
We're off to Sydney today to celebrate a friend's 30th {bless}. We're having lunch here: a place called Table For 20 in Surry Hills, then we'll go freshen up at our hotel before heading off for drinks at a pub to complete the night. 
Oh, I'm so loving having my parents up at the moment. Mum's been cleaning and I have a sparkling clean bathroom for the first time in eons and floors that are mopped when they need it, not after me stepping over it saying, "Damn, I really need to mop that floor". We've also moved our newest bookshelf into the kitchen for the time being. And look, I've set it up with all the essentials {including the ingredients for a violette martini - vodka, cointreau and violette syrup!}.
My gal took to the stage of the Civic Theatre last night and the smile never left her face. She danced beautifully in this gorgeous theatre and we couldn't have been more proud of her. I also had a totally proud parent moment when two girls in her class received special trophys. When both were announced my gal grinned, applauded, and called over "Well done!" Bless. Just like Sienna from MasterChef Jr. Couldn't be happier.
So, you know how I hate shopping - but love an accidental buy? Well, how's this? Today's my daughter's ballet concert, so OF COURSE her jazz shoes decided to spontaneously combust in an extraordinary fashion and need replacing. On the day of the concert. 
