Monday 28 February 2011

Back to the country


Kicking off Monday with a spring in my step this week. We just had the most gloriously relaxing weekend tucked up in a B&B in the countryside. Escaping the city never felt so good! Lots of walks, photo taking, eating out, antique shop and gallery gazing (heyhey - that was me). I hope you all had a good one too. xx

Friday 25 February 2011

At my table

Remember I told you have mismatching chairs at my dining table? Well, here is another of them.

I actually fell in love with the fabric covering this chair when I bought it rather than the chair itself which is rather plain and boring. I can't decide whether someone handmade the cover with some of their favourite fabric or it is an original vintage piece. Anyway, I don't really care it's so pretty and the perfect complement, being green, to our crimson furniture.

You know me, I'm always a fresh flowers kinda girl but when I saw these little fake berries in a gift shop I couldn't resist. I think they look so pretty and the best thing is they aren't going to my bin in a few days! :-)

So glad it's Friday again, we have lots of lovely relaxing things planned this weekend I can't wait. Have a super duper one my friends! xx

Thursday 24 February 2011

Confusing times

Such is the weather at the moment, I can't decide whether to rug up like this tree I saw on the weekend (how cute is that, that someone knitted it some sleeves!) or wear one of my favourite summer dresses! It really has been the strangest summer this year. Suffocatingly hot one day and then grey and really quite cool the next.

No doubt you will have heard the news of Christchurch lately. My prayers and thoughts are with everyone affected. What a year for natural disasters.

Wishing you a beautiful day and maybe you might like to pop over to Honey & Fizz where the lovely Simone has interviewed me :-)

Monday 21 February 2011

New flea market finds

Some new beautiful things from the flea markets. A (nother) blue and white ginger jar and a lovely little framed print from Florence, Italy. Adore them both! The brass candlestick in the background is an older flea market find...

I woke up very tired today and a little under the weather. I hope you're starting your week a little better!

Friday 18 February 2011

Silver twinkles

Some pretty sparkly things to finish the week. The top picture is of my 'new' necklace made completely of little sequins (I love it) and the second picture is part of my pale pink silk top which has silver sequins all around the layers - it's very pretty, I will show you a better photo another time. Today I am joining the lovely Joyce who is hosting Friday Pretties, she's such a sweetheart :)

It's almost here and boy am I looking forward to it after a crazy week of work....Have a lovely weekend! xx

Wednesday 16 February 2011

My baby girl

I haven't shown you a photo before of my baby, Saffy. Here she is all snuggled up on my parents' sofa. All photo credit goes to my brother, who took this shot the Christmas before last when I was home in the UK. Isn't she adorable? Oh I miss her so. I know she probably doesn't miss me though. I'm such a hugger and squeezer and she is little Miss Independent - I'd rather go catch a mouse, lol!

My lovely parents have been looking after her since I moved to Australia, six years ago. Aren't parents great!

Feeling like curling up myself, I'm back from my trip and feeling very tired!

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Out and about

I thought I'd share some pictures from our weekend - well a small part of it. I love exploring new places, especially on overcast, mysterious days.

It felt a bit like Autumn here. I'm always amazed by the number of orange leaves on the ground in summer in Australia. A little smidgen of house envy crept in when I snapped this baby on the left (3rd row down). I won't even tell you how much I think, correction, know(!), it's worth. Some days I wonder whether we will ever be able to afford a house...

Anyway more pressing things to address: It's 5am right now, I'm so sleepy (yes I know what I'm I doing, blogging of all things!). Off to catch a horrifically early flight to Melbourne, bleugh the things a girl's gotta do! Have a great day.

Sunday 13 February 2011

Happy Valentines!

I promise not to get too soppy or romantic! This is just a quick post to say I hope you all have a lovely day tomorrow with your treasured other halves, have fun! :)

{photo by me: of heart confetti given to me by my Mum, bless - she buys me the best presents!}

Saturday 12 February 2011

Back to the homeland


Feeling like a bit of home today. It's grey outside (haha not that grey skies always remind me of England), I have lots of teacakes (my fav) sitting on my willow pattern plates and I'm curled up on the sofa watching Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (which I bought last week). Yes, I know it's a children's film but I love it! It's so close to how I was brought up (minus the war part) in the beautiful rolling countryside (poppy fields, corn fields, hay bales) with lots of old cottages, farms everywhere - it really was very romantic!

These are the things making me smile today and before I go, a big thank you for all your gorgeous 1st birthday wishes! :-)

Friday 11 February 2011

I am One

{via}

Today is my blog's 1st birthday! Hip hip hooray! :)

Tee hee - it's changed quite a bit from when I first started it - here is my first ever post. Thank you so much for all your support over the last year. I've had an absolute blast doing this and being immersed in such an inspirational, wonderful world with you all!xx

Thursday 10 February 2011

Pretty Styling

{via}

Aren't these pictures fabulous? I really think macaroons are coming into vogue in a big way. Just like the proliferation of cupcake shops (who'd have thought 5 years ago?) I think we'll soon see cafes dedicated macaroons. Yum, yum.

Wednesday 9 February 2011

My chilli plant and neighbour love


Our chilli plant is struggling a bit today - it's suffering from little spider mites. We've put some cinnamon on it (an organic prefered way to treat it) which is helping a bit but I still think it needs a little tlc. Any ideas? We've used this little plant for about 5 spicy meals so far and are hoping we can use it for many more!

On a separate note, do you like this chair? It's so retro. Yet another neighbour throw out (and in good condition) can you believe! Haha I'm such a scavenger but there always seems to be great stuff left strewn around in a heap ready for the council to collect! Now I have all these mismatching chairs around our old scratched (another neighbour throw out from a couple of years ago) round table. Ah gotta love those neighbours. :-)

When I was little we lived in a teeny tiny village in the heart of the English countryside and this sort of thing never happened (maybe in the 80s people made do a bit more) unless someone purposefully came your way and offered you something they were throwing out and sadly you could always see why...(no meaness intended). I guess that's the difference, city living (with lots of people moving/changing their mind over furniture) and being in an apartment.

Anyway, so glad this week is a little quieter for me. No travel means I have a bit more time to do things like gift wrapping for nephews, write to newly engaged cousins and watch Packed to the Rafters - which is back on our screens, hurrah! :)

Hope you're having a good morning. xx

Tuesday 8 February 2011

Pretty spaces

I love the details in these rooms and their understated beautiful colours. Sigh, I just love so many different styles!

I think I may need your help today...I'm trying to update my facebook page with my posts but only the pictures come up, no text. I can't believe how incompetent I'm being but it seems to be very confusing configuring it all. Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you! :)

Monday 7 February 2011

Feeling the heat

Wow, such a hot weekend. Saturday in particular was sweltering and I had to keep going to the freezer to cool my face,lol! Really hard to cope with 42 degree temperatures in a little heat retaining flat, especially when you don't have AC (we make do with two fans blowing hot air at us!) I barely moved all day except for a late afternoon swim and then, quite madly, we went out with friends for Indian in the evening - just what you need to help cool you down!

Yesterday afternoon was a little cooler and we ventured out for some exploring around Sydney and to get some frappes/iced mocha (just what was needed) in a very cute cafe (above).

Did anyone else feel the heat this weekend?
xx

Thursday 3 February 2011

Exhausted

{Image via here}

I've just come back from the most intense few days of travel including a day trip (a DAY trip!) to New Zealand. All I want to do is this:

Zzzzzzzzzzz

Catch up with you all soon. x