Melinda Maria Pod Ring

Late night assessments of ones life usually revolve around clocking up some serious couch time on a Sunday night, as well as reading, watching World Cup repeats and making lists. It sometimes also results in online shopping. (Un)fortunately my internet at home has not worked (the ISP technician, nor the Telstra technician has been able to solve the problem of my signal that keeps dropping out) which has limited my access to the mountains of online retailers currently having sales. And I've been much too busy at work to indulge in my online shopping weakness.

However, the signal held up just long enough for me to order the Melinda Maria pod ring that I've wanted since I fell in love with it after seeing it on this free bird a few weeks ago! I love so many Melinda Maria pieces - I can see this becoming an addiction! Thankfully the only Australian online stockist that I could find has a very small selection, so I'm safe for now!

The ring arrived this morning and is even more perfect in person than I'd imaged. Really well made and gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!

Weekend winter warmers...

Some inspiration for me for the following weekend... My brother is coming for a weekend visit. Lets hope I manage to get out for breakfast on Saturday wearing something other than a hoodie and sneakers... sigh

New week, new me...

Over the last few weeks I've felt rather flat.  Life has not gone to plan lately, friends have disappointed me again and again.  Sometimes I struggle to get out of bed, let alone to wash my hair and get dressed and leave the house.  And the cold weather is going straight through the bones.

I'm going to try and beat it one day at a time.  Today it was with baking, tomorrow, hopefully with exercise. And I promise I'm going to care about what I'm wearing to work next week!

Tonight's recipe - an apple & strawberry sponge pudding.  A variation of a couple of different recipes

Ingredients

• 4 granny smith apples
• punnet of strawberries - you can use any berries or even rhubarb
• 120g butter
• 220g sugar
• 2 eggs
• 100g self raising flour
• 50ml milk

Boil apples and berries in 100ml water & 100g sugar for 15 minutes

mix butter, sugar, eggs, flour and milk

spoon the fruit (minus the juice) in a baking tray.  pour the sponge mixture over it.

bake for 30-40 min at 180 degrees.  custard is optional

perfect with a cup of tea on a cold winter Sunday night

xoxo

Loving the Mad Men vibe of these Dolce & Gabbana Campaigns...

"It was very comfortable. She walked in the room, and I’m a big Madonna fan so I was expecting it to be nervewracking but she walked in and it was totally fine. I felt like her son for the day, I was supposed to be her son in the ad campaign actually. She was just so nice to me, it wasn’t like I was some random kid, she really treated me with respect and I truly respected her for that. She’s such a superstar but she treats you as though you’re on the same level. It was really incredible and she’s just a very nice, sweet person. I was pleasantly surprised."

Summer Sizzle!

Spanish Elle - May 2010

I'm eagerly awaiting my issue of US Vogue July 2010.  These images of Marion shot in Provence are spectacular, cannot wait to cosy up and read it next weekend.

Spent!

Is it just me, or is there an influx of books and films glorifying the concept of shopping addiction?  A beautiful woman breaks up with her boyfriend/her dog dies/her friend steals her wedding date and she spirals out of control and consoles herself by shopping?  In the end, prince charming comes along and saves the day.

But the reality is a lot harsher.  Living beyond ones means is a lot more dangerous than one may hope.  Credit cards come with a whole lot of spin - the promise to help you lead a better life and enable you to live your dreams, go on that vacation now, buy those Prada shoes now and all the while earn points for rewards (towards useless things you'll never use, like a rice cooker or foot spa).  But chances are if you need expensive debt to achieve your dreams, they are not meant to be, or there is a better way to achieve them.  If you cannot afford to pay for those shoes now, chances are you won't in 40 days when the bill arrives.  Key is to budget!  Put away some money for rent, for food and for shoes and buy things once you've saved up for them.

If you're battling existing debt, you will know how hard it is to actually pay it back.  Living costs will continue and it will be increasing difficult to go old turkey on your old lifestyle.  To not be able buy that new lip gloss on Saturday (as well as the coffee and pastry and scarf and sunglasses...)

It is a serious matter.  One that can damage a relationship.  Hiding new purchases from your boyfriend or mother?  Not just a fun thing all girls do, it's deceipt and can be harmful to your relationship.  Own up, you will feel a huge burden lift from your shoulders.... You will no longer be afraid of that envelope and the phone calls that follow should you be unable to keep up with repayments.  Get your loved ones involved to help you consolidate and get back on track.

Avis Cardella's memoir of her dark shopping years is on it's way to me.  Interesting to see her take on the issue and how she overcame her shopping addiction.  Review to follow.

Give away winner!

Thanks to random.org, the winner of the last give away was comment number one - Couture Carrie. Book and other bits and pieces coming your way.

Congrats

x

Winter getaways...

Travel has got to be one of my greatest loves.  But unfortunately I do not like being away from home for more than 2-3 weeks.  I love new places, but I'm not a fan of lugging suitcases and disrupting my routine.  So that's why I love mini breaks - carry on luggage and minimal fuss and I'm back in my own bed within days.

Summer breaks can be exhausting - I spend a lot of time walking, sight seeing and checking out every beach within driving distance of the destination and often I need a day or two to rest.

My favourite time to get away is in winter.  Activities are usually limited to drinking red wine and eating hearty meals or sitting by the fire reading.

B and I are planning a quick trip in August to the snow or perhaps to Cradle Mountain in Tasmania...

Cradle Mountain Lodge is absolutely divine in winter.  It can snow at times, but very lightly, and the bush walking tracks are amazing with plenty of wild life to encounter.  There is no rushing required, just a tranquil few days spent by the fire or in the spa.

Of course, a winter get away requires a winter wardrobe...

A cosy cashmere jumper...

A wool cocoon coat

A chunky knit scarf

And of course, flat riding boots in a luxe, buttery leather

National Gallery of Victoria

Since Melbourne winter isn't really inviting for outdoor activities, the restaurants and museums are abuzz.

For the previous 8 years NGV has been hosted some wonderful collections as part of their "Winter Masterpieces".  This month over 100 pieces will arrive from Frankfurt for "European Masters: Städel Museum 19th – 20th Centuries" to spend the Melbourne winter here.

I loved the Masterpieces from Paris that were on display in Canberra over summer and I was very jealous that they didn't make their way down here to Melbourne so I could have seen the exhibit more than once.

I have a NGV membership - $50 per annum gets me in express avoiding the queues, and entry into the members lounge where I love to go on the weekends in winter to enjoy the view over Melbourne whilst studying or reading... I hope I continue to love art as much as I have over the past few years.

Thanks B

Poor soul was going to pick the coat up for me last night, but didn't get there in time before Myer closed... so so sweet!  Thanks honeyyyyyyyyyyy, I feel really guilty though.

No rest for the wicked though.  My next unit has started and as you can see, there's a loooooooooooot of reading to do and lectures to listen to, even though I am tempted to sit on the couch instead and catch up on The City - have missed the whole season thus far!

Did I mention how fabulous my husband is?

Look what's sitting under my desk... Yes that's right, a grey Camilla & Marc trench coat.

For the love of leather

If you follow me on twitter, you will know that I've been searching high and low for the following items for well over a year:

1) a black leather bag

2) a black leather mini skirt

I have not had any luck finding neither.  Imagine my reaction when I found this sass & bide leather mini, at 30% off via our friends at mycatwalk.com.au?

Except, I can't convince B to let me buy the trench coat, let alone a black leather mini skirt.  Darn it.  Married life is good, isn't it?

I hate winter!

It's no secret that winter is my least favourite season... seeing friends on a Saturday night?  No thanks - I'd rather be in a bathrobe and slippers in front of the heater watching French films.  The thought of standing on cold tiles in a cold bathroom applying mascara and straightening my hair frightens me.  My social life suffers.  Not to mention the lack of ANYTHING to wear that will keep the wind from my bones.  


After sleeping for most of Saturday to recover from the sheer exhaustion of handing in a paper at 11.54pm on Friday night that was due at 11.55pm on Friday, I decided to venture outside today.  


A few weeks ago Giana & Jam, the two lovely ladies behind Lah De Da Bazaar invited me to the launch at Biero Bar - a perfect way to spend a cold Melbourne Sunday - at a cosy indoors venue looking at pretty things.  According to the lovely girls, "Lah de da is a crossroads between unique vintage and local labels – a dedication to the dedication to supporting young and ‘unseen’ Australian designers. The bazaar is dazzling place for the local labels to show their amazing craftsmanship to the fashion community and mingle with the vintage labels.

Overall, the bazaar was created to unite ‘old’ and ‘new’, into one romantic place for all to enjoy! "

Thanks for the invite girls... I'm sure your hard work will grow into an exciting and successful concept!  Lovely to meet you both.

I then decided to check out the sales... Except for underwear, I purchase 95% of my fashion items online.  I like the stress and pressure free environment of online shopping - the non existence of women who rush up to the Louboutins at David Jones and make fun of the prices, the clothes thrown everyone and squashed amongst piles of junk, making everything look like junk... Online shopping allows me to pin point to exactly what I want and enables me think of what the item will go with.

I did however find a gorgeous Camilla & Marc grey trench coat, reduced from $1,100 to $494... It is on hold until Tuesday - enough time to decide if I really want and need it.... which I do, but one must be responsible!  Plus there's a husband to convince.

I spent the rest of the afternoon at Lindt cafe, nibbling on on their delightful macaroons and sipping hot chocolate whilst reading the new issue of Australian Vogue, which comes with a bunch of Mecca Cosmetica goodies.

Tonight I am catching up on blogs and cooking a beef stew.... (yes in front of the heater in my bathrobe)

Hope you've all had a delightful weekend. x