i've said it before...

The best thing about being a celeb would have to be getting to play dress-ups all the time.

And don'tcha just love how SJP seems to enjoy it too? {Wonder if Matthew Broderick got to play the Big Bad Wolf when they got home?}

wee french yoghurt pots

In France you don't have to eat yoghurt from a nasty plastic tub. Oh no, in France they have the most delicious yoghurt in lovely glass jars. I know - glass jars! So this time, I made sure I washed a few and brought them home. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with them {aside from popping in a votive candle...}

But here's what I can do. When I popped outside earlier to grab the mail I noticed two of my Pierre de Ronsard roses had gotten a bit damaged while hubby was tying them back. No problem, I snipped them off, brought them in and put them straight into a yoghurt pot.

Perfection.

Now all I have to do is clean my desk to make a more appropriate home for them  {please ignore that weird, crumby thing in the corner of my photo - focus on the roses and the yoghurt pot instead. Thanks}

it's all about contrast

Don't you just love a bit of contrast? I adore the way this lavender pops against this pale green shutter, which co-ordinates just beautifully with the stone wall.

I think I need to bring a little bit of Provence back to my spot in Merewether...

meal planning monday

Okay, getting organised again. Honestly, if I don't meal-plan my whole week seems to fall apart, so here we go.

Tonight: I couldn't be bothered leaving the house so we had a 'pantry meal' of potato, capsicum and chorizo tortilla. Served with a simple green salad. Yum.
Tuesday: The gal and I are taking her cousin to see the Verona Theatre Group's version of Pinocchio and getting a rather fabbo Italian meal with it. Last year this company came out and performed The Little Prince. Half in Italian, half in English - I was fully in tears. Bless.
Wednesday: I think I have to make a risotto as there is some kick-ass home-made chicken stock in my fridge that's begging to be used. Lemon chicken and haloumi risotto you think?
Thursday: My gal's last ballet lesson before her ballet exam on Saturday {why yes, it IS right after her netball grand final... BIG weekend} Best make her happy and make up a Shephard's pie for dinner.
Friday: Now, chances are that I've invited friends for dinner tonight. If so, there will be duck confit, potatoes and green beans. If not, well, why not have duck confit...
Saturday: There's a celebration at the local club for the end of the netball year. Nibbles will be available - so I'll have a curry at home in the slow cooker ready for our return.
Sunday: Roast beef. Yep, with plenty of veg - am LOVING roasted carrots and beetroot alongside my meat. You?

how many?

People, a moment please: this is, wait for it - my 2000st blog post. I KNOW!

I never realised, when I started this blog for a bit of fun a few years back, that I'd still be blogging 2000 posts later. I also had no idea that I'd form such incredible friendships, and discover so many fabulous aussie blogs.

So, woo hoo, here's to 2000 - and the next 2000. Thanks for sticking around x

flowers for friday

Later on I'll be popping out to buy some daffodils for Daffodil Day. But, until I have their pretty yellow faces popping over a pale blue jug, I'll have to fill this space with some provencal lavender.

le bol

A bowl of coffee, in a pretty bol purchased in Menerbes in Provence, my sweet new mousemat {purchased at Typo at Charlestown... doesn't have the same ring... but still - pretty!} and you have the perfect combination for a good morning's work.

Thanks Gourmet Girlfriend for a timely reminder that a big bowl of coffee is sometimes all you need.

here?

Excuse me, but how divine is this? There's a spot on my veranda that's just crying out for one of these babies {and the charcoal boards too - divine!}

colour coded

Should you ever be curious about the next hottest nail colour you only need to look to Chanel. Ever since Uma Thurman's nails in Pulp Fiction set the fashion world alight, Chanel have been the go-to for what's hot on nails.

While Rouge Noir is still one of the highest selling nail colours {what's not to love about a red so deep it's almost black} each season Chanel has fashionistas salivating in anticipation of their newest release.

Now, I didn't go for last season's citron yellow {when you have olive skin, yellows tend to bring out the jaundice effect...} I think I could be inspired to paint on this Coco Blue.

Or Blue Boy...

Blue Rebel?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to stalk the Chanel counter...

a cameo role

When you have long, black, curly hair that you tend to wear just, you know, hanging, earrings tend to get lost.

But I think I'd be persuaded to wear an up-do for these!

Helloooooooooo lovely {Dolce and Gabbana clip-ons via net-a-porter.com - yum!}

Farewell Harry and friends

So, I finally got to the cinema for the final Harry Potter. Genius.

I was worried I'd feel let down, but once again the team came up trumps and created a fitting finale. I do feel sad that it's over, but thankfully the film did provide some closure.

Now I think it's time to revisit the books, then start all over with the movies again...

sweet saturday

Oh my it's a glorious day in sunny Newcastle today. We had our netball semi final against the top team, we lost, but boy, did we play well. That means that next week we'll play against the winner of the other semi-final and then, hopefully, onto the Grand Final. Woo hoooo!

And tonight I'm off to a Year 6 mums' night out. Yes, Year 6. Goodness. It does mean that I'm missing a fabulous blogger's bash in Sydney tonight to welcome back the BlogHer goddesses Mrs Woog and Eden - but I'm sure they'll have a fabbo time and I can live vicariously through blog posts and twitter feeds.

Now, I'm off to paint my nails - what goes with tapas? I'm thinking grey as I'm wearing a black vintage frock with white piping, red shoes, red lips and probably red bag. Too much red? Sorry, that's just not possible.

You?

eye spy

Because what's funnier than a cat with a "What you talkin' about Willis?" expression.

Nothing.

Thank you Isson Eyewear spring-summer 2012 catalogue. Not only is your eyewear pretty damn fine, you brought a giggle to my grey ol' day.

PS: Beware, link contains not only more rather fabulous shades; but a pug {!!!} and guinea pigs... You've been warned.

PPS: At first I thought that cat was lounging back and wearing a leather jacket. My die...

do you like scary movies?

I used to be a HUGE fan of scary movies. In my teens I swallowed them up: Texas Chainsaw Massacre, all the Nightmare on Elmstreet films, Friday the 13th... But when I fell pregnant, that was it - no more. I couldn't bear anything scary or remotely horrifying.

Of all these films, one sticks in my mind for the serious scare-you-out-of-your-skin factor: The Woman In Black. Scary. Seriously.

And now it's been remade, with a rather dashing Daniel Radcliffe in the lead {seriously, that boy is growing into his looks...}.

Dare I?

a weekend project

We saw this vegie garden at the Hampton Court flower show and fell in luuuurve. That's what I want for our side yard - including a wee bench to sit back and gaze adoringly at the produce.

back in the real world...

Well, I think the post-holiday glow's officially worn off now. I'm back to normal sleeping patterns, back to boring old shopping in Australian supermarkets {where's the 4 euro bottles of rosé people?} and cooking in my kitchen - which is nowhere near as glamorous as cooking in Provence...

Luckily I have a new job that I LOVE, and the weather's looking mighty fine in this neck of the woods. Yep, life back in Aus isn't too shabby at all really...

wearing red for daniel

It's been hard not to be touched by the story of Daniel Morcombe who disappeared all those years ago in 2003. Thinking of his family, and what they've been through, is just heart-wrenching. Losing a family member must be indescribably difficult, but when you don't know what happened, or where they are, the pain must be magnified.

With the arrest of a person of interest, hopefully the Morcombe family are closer to closure.

In honour of Daniel's memory, the Morcombe family have called for people to wear red in his memory. After reading the call from Nikki from Styling You on Twitter I knew I'd be able to find something red.

For you, Daniel, and your family, may you finally have some peace.

sunday suppers

Okay, another week, another meal plan. Let's get into it shall we?

Sunday: tonight we've been invited to drinks at our dear friends' house. I've made some canapes of caramelised onions with thyme and red-wine poached pears on little rounds of puff pastry {ah, the things you can create from very little} and they're supplying French cheese and champagne. Yum. When we get home I've got some chilli prawns from Aussie Farmer's Direct in the fridge - I'll cook them up and serve them with spaghetti with garlic breadcrumbs, lemon zest and parsley.
Monday: there's a cyber-bullying workshop at my gal's school. Early dinner of chorizo and potato tortilla with green salad I think.
Tuesday: I didn't make a roasted chicken last week - best do it tonight. I do have a hankering...
Wednesday: Netball training - pork curry!
Thursday: I think I'd best make a risotto - bacon and mushroom perhaps.
Friday: I'm off to Sydney for a meeting, so when I get home I'm hoping hubby and the gal will make me a Mexican feast.
Saturday: I'm off to a mum's night for school - my last mum's night out at this school {sob!} We're having tapas - and perhaps a drink or two...

You?

they need to change the title...

To capital F for fabulous. LOVE this look on Kristen Stewart. Young Liz Taylor anyone?

sweet, sweet saturday

Can you smell it? Can you feel it? That hint of Spring in the air...

We've got our last round of netball for the season today, with the semis starting next week {and we're in woo hooooooo!}. This afternoon we're doing the last of the unpacking, and moving our new {old} dining table into its correct place {why yes I do have an 1840 French Farmhouse table in my bedroom - don't you?}

I'm dead keen to get into the garden too: currently the irises are out, my rose sticks are shooting, and THIS is the year we're getting the veggie garden happening.

I think I need those floral wellies to help me garden don't you think?