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...