Scenes from suburbia

So, it's been nearly 9 months since Stu and I moved into our new home. During this time, I:

• decorated and re-decorated about 6 times


• got used to the quietness of suburbia and learnt not to jumped in fright when something creaks


• had currawongs eat berries and make purple poop everywhere


• spent many a lazy afternoon, sipping a cup of tea in the sun


• fed other native birds in the backyard


• found out I have a macadamia nut tree! (as well as figs and lemons and mandarins!)


• had visits from possums, bunnies and bandicoots


• swung on my swings


• spent happy hours entertaining friends and family


• baked and cooked to such excess my oven and stove died

In other words, I'm settling down beautifully.

Soft curls

I'm thinking of getting a soft wave perm.

Image source: 1, 2, 3, 4

From my oven

My oven died on the weekend. There was no warning sign, it just stopped working. It made me sad because in the last 6 months, I spent many happy hours cooking and baking with it. So here's a little tribute to my oven, thanks for helping me produce these wonderful goodies and so much more.

From top to bottom: Rosemary butter cookies, apple strudel, pear and almond tart, kourambiedes.

One sequin at a time

"And now, I'm just trying to change the world, one sequin at a time"

- Lady Gaga

When I see sequins, I think of my mom.

During my childhood fancy dress dancing days, she used to labouriously sew thousands of sequins on my costumes. She was really good at it; creating patterns, flowers, elaborate designs and I remember poring over every fine detail and feeling very loved.

Do you love sequins?

Image source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Lingerie Please giveaway

My heart skipped a beat when I received this beautiful O Lingerie camisole and brief from the lovely people at Lingerie Please. But it's not just a looker, it feels wonderfully soft and light too - perfect for the warm summer nights ahead.

Now, here's the exciting bit: You get the chance to win this camisole set! Simply click here to visit Lingerie Please's competition page (created specially for my readers) and enter with your email address. Good luck!

This giveaway is open for 2 weeks until 2nd September and is open to international readers. The winner will be picked at random and contacted directly by Lingerieplease for preferred size and postal address.

Hang in there, baby

Got the mid-week blues? Just hang in there, the weekend will be here soon! Plus, I have a fab giveaway in store for you, so stay tuned.

Image source: 1, 2, 3, 4

Be my guest

Have a little peek into my guest room: Our guest room overlooks the front yard and a lovely rose bush that flowers in summer. The large picture windows lets plenty of light in.

Sleepover, anyone?

On the weekend

We celebrated Stu's mom's birthday on the weekend. The plan was to take her out for lunch but in the spur of the moment, I decided I would make it extra special and bake her a cake as well. Our diosma bush was in full bloom and the lemon thyme needed some pruning. So I stuck them into crystal vases. They ended up looking rather nice and smelled lovely. I was quite chuffed about that, it's funny how little things like that make me happy.

It was a bit of a frantic morning trying to get everything ready and the house clean and the cake baked. But it was worth it. Can you guess what I made?
A pistachio and vanilla cake! Told you it was worth it.What did you do on the weekend?

Memories in a bottle

Driftwood and seashells from a fabulous day out at Avalon Beach.

Pinecones collected on Rottnest Island, where a fun-filled day was spent cycling.

Heart-shaped pebble collected from Devonport, during a trip to Tasmania.

Corks from red wine we spent many happy hours drinking.

I keep my memories in a bottle. Where do you keep yours?

Love, in unexpected places

I am feeling a lot of love at the moment. The wedding invites have just gone out and already I am getting so much wonderful responses, well wishes and excitement, I just want to share the love.

Images from here: 1, 2, 3, 4

Magnolia Spring

Spring has arrived early this year. There are little signs everywhere; the air is just a touch warmer, the days just a bit longer. The magpies are nesting and the magnolias are in bloom. This is my favourite time of the year.

Photos taken during a stroll in my new neighbourhood.

Rest at Kangaroo Valley

Stu and I spent a few days down south at the Kangaroo Valley recently. We had both been so busy lately; this break was purely for rest.

In my mind, I had pictured kangaroos hopping around the valley (I know, so silly.) but the only marsupial we saw was this baby wombat dozing in the sun. Cute huh?

We stayed at the Rest cottage at Willabrook retreat, a secluded property with the Kangaroo river running through with its own private swimming hole. The cottage is every bit the country home I dream of owning one day.

Sigh...one day.