I am home!

As most of you know I was lucky enough to go to England with Brad for 6 weeks over Dec/Jan.

We got back 1 week ago and have been thrust back into life once again.
We visited my sister and her husband in England and got to see such beautiful European sights whilst travelling around in a motor home. It was an amazing time to always remember and cherish. There is something about returning to your HOME though. I am loving being back in my own environment and surrounded by my fave things.
It made my realise how lucky and blessed I am.
I already miss my sister and brother in-law though!

Me and Rosemary

After returning from our WONDERFUL overseas adventure my rosemary bush was beyond flourishing.
I love Rosemary - The look, the scent, the taste - I love it! I couldn't bear to cut it back and waste a single piece, so here is a few things I did with my rosemary, not one piece wasted I can enjoy it fully!

Chicken skewers on rosemary twigs.

Drying rosemary.

Sprigs in vases around the house.

Two

Well you guessed it! Brad and I have been married TWO years! I can't believe it was TWO years ago, how time flies.
We had a wonderful evening. We went to Hargreaves Hill brewery in Yarra Glen for tea and it was mouth watering. (Check out 'Foodies Monday')
Here is a description of the menu we ate.
"Slow roasted pork belly with macadamia, walnut and pistachio farce and a char grilled pear salad with mustard vinaigrette and a glass of Sedona Estate 2006 Merlot"
AMAZING!
Its been a massive two years but a wonderful one!

White paint and Christmas craft

Since finishing full time study and getting past exams and assignments, I have had a bit more time to do some creative things at home and also some crafty preparation for Christmas time.
I painted our brown brick fire place white and I am so happy with the finished product. It brightens up the room and really creates a lovely centre piece.

Brad and I are going over to England on December the 10th (exciting!!!) and so we are having a family and friends (separate) Christmas party. I decided to make my own bon bons this year (first time). I am going for a red and white colour theme and the bon bons in the shop just were not doing it for me.

My freshly painted white fire place. It was a horrid glazed brown brick.
Paint - $8
Brush - $5

My new "love" vase from my visit to Robert Gordon - LOVE!

Bits and pieces involved.

The finished product - just what I wanted!

Poor Girl Gourmet

I was just browsing the net today for a recipe for an apple and ricotta cake when I stumbled across this blog and really enjoyed perusing through it.
Have a look around for your self.
It's all about high quality gourmet food mad on a lo budget...perfect!!
The cake was delish and I have added this little blog treasure to my daily hit list!

www.poorgirlgourmet.blogspot.com

The Sparrows Nest

A little while ago my husband, Brad, told me he had a surprise for me.

I was extremely excited about this and asked consistently, at least every second day for 4 months "So...when will I get my surprise?" (I love surprises!)

One night out of the blue, he decided he would tell me what my surprise was.

I was pretty excited and couldn't believe that after months of asking, he was finally going to tell me...

Turns out, my friend Nimmi, had told him to take me to a beautiful cafe in Melbourne called 'The sparrows nest'. She said it looked lovely and I would be sure to love it!!!

I was HAPPY of coarse with my surprise, but with the built up suspense, I was thinking along the lines of- A hot air balloon ride, a weekend away, a puppy??

Part of me wonders why Brad took 4 months to get around to telling me what the surprise was, yet never took me there (surely we had a spare couple of hours??)

But alas, we are going there for brunch this Sunday. I looked it up on the net and yes it looks fab.

Maybe you too should take a trip to The sparrows nest!!

P.S Thanks Nim for the idea, we'll get there eventually! xx

www.cafesphotoblog.blogspot.com

Baby Shower mood board

I am organizing a baby shower for a good friend of mine in a few weeks time and I thought I would take this opportunity to create a mood board full of my ideas and inspirations. She is having a boy, but we don't want it to be too corny and "baby-ish" so here are my ideas, what do you think?

Lots of vases full of fresh spring blooms.


Delicious and colorful nibbles.

A lovely array of tea pots with lots of different teas to choose from.

A mood board showing bits and pieces about the mum and dad...

And...of coarse a few baby presents to shower the expectant mother to be.

We will of coarse do a few games and things but my main aim to to treat my good friend with a lovely afternoon with her closest friends and to celebrate the new life that is blooming in her belly.
Let me know if you have any suggestions or thoughts to add to my mood board! xx