Recipe: Raspberry & Banana Muffins

Isn't life an unpredictable ride?  

I've spent the last 10 years racing through it.  I sit down each January and set goals.  Usually to do with property purchases, pay rises, promotions, a trip to a new destination, something new to study?  More more more, quick quick quick.  

Well not this year.  This year is all about me and my health.  Today was the first day in ages that I didn't HAVE to be in 3 places at once.  And more than ever I'm starting to say no.  Just doing things that make me happy.  I'm winding down some things on the go and January is traditionally the craziest (and the most fun and exciting month) but I need to take better care of myself and draw the line somewhere.

Cooking and exercising and spending time with my amazing husband are top of my list.  I'm also treating myself to a trip to Sydney in February, selling most of my belongings on eBay, going to the country to see the Grace Kelly exhibit in March and going home more often to see my parents.

My heavy duty kitchen mixer died late last year, which almost excited me because I thought that MAYBE it was time to get a KitchenAid.  But it seems not yet.  I fell in love with a beautiful Kenwood which was reduced from $300 to $219.. which then scanned for $129 at the register.  HAPPY!  Which meant some left over money on the voucher for some goodies from Chanel.

I took it for a test mix today and made some raspberry and banana muffins.  The recipe can be altered to just about any sort of muffin.  I usually halve the amount of sugar in recipes, so if you like your muffins sweeter, I have stated the amount of sugar the recipe calls for.

360g plain flour

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon bicarb soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

4 eggs

150 g caster sugar (recipe calls for 270g)

180g butter

200g sour cream

1 small banana

1 punnet raspberries

Preheat over at 180C.  Sift together the dry ingredients.  Beat the eggs and sugar until pale and thick, then continue to beat while adding the butter, adding in the flour mixture.  Add sour cream and mix for a further 1 minute and fold in the fruit so it doesn't crumble.  Spoon into paper cases and bake for around 15 minutes.  The sour cream is the winning touch in my opinion and these are great frozen and popped in the handbag for a snack during the day.

Giveaway winner is...

I know the comp ended at Christmas and since my spare room resembles a St Vinnies sorting warehouse right now I had totally forgotten to pick a winner.

Random number generator has decided to give the prize to Iron Chef Shellie!! Yay! Congrats! X

Mid week dinner

I'm headed out for dinner at Greek Deli on Chapel Street with my dearest friends. It's a tiny and hidden oldie but goody. After the cold weekend, yesterday was once hottest day of the year, and today it's windy and chilly again. Who can keep up?

-- Zara tiered top, Zara jacket, Lovisa necklace, Scanlan & Theodore silk peg leg trousers, Zara sequin clutch (borrowed from SIL, still looking for my own), Witchery studded sandals --

Back and on the go

I'm back from holidays. Happy to be reunited with my pillow, my bottle of Pantene Aqualight and Parlux hair dryer. Not so happy to be headed back to work on Monday.

I'm running late for a meeting now. Last minute run through for our huge event tomorrow. Nerves have set in, for sure. Last minute calls from media seeking accreditation. Breathe.

My tan is hiding under this wintry outfit. Please sun, come out and play????

-- sass & bide rats leggings, Alaia lace ballet flats, Sportsgirl sweater, Zara sequin clutch, Lovisa necklace --

Where I've spent most of the week...

Hope you all had a fab week and hope you have an even better weekend x

L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2012 Cultural Program

The L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) Cultural Program packs an artistic punch, with over 77 diverse and inspiring events throughout Victoria.

The program combines design, art and film to explore another side of fashion through a series of unique and interactive events, far beyond the runway.

Extending from the officially programmed events of the Festival week, LMFF Cultural Program runs through the entire month of March. In 2012 LMFF is thrilled to announce the Cultural Program has the support of leading Australian public and commercial galleries, who will host some of the program’s ‘hero’ events.

Graeme Lewsey, LMFF Chief Executive Officer said “The Cultural Program celebrates a number of iconic Australian designers including Linda Jackson, Mariana Harwick (celebrating 30 years) through to street groovers Alpha 60 in non-traditional fashion presentations. Fashion & Film events continue to morph from digital platforms to live screens across the Festival adding inspiring colour and movement”.

The 2012 Cultural Program highlights include:

Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibition, at Bendigo Art Gallery traces the life
of one of the most photographed women of the 20th Century, exploring the
evolution of her style from actress to Princess Grace of Monaco, and
includes her haute couture gowns of the 1960s and 1970s.

CLICK! Fashion Photographers on Film, at ACMI goes behind the
camera to discover the world of a fashion photographer, featuring new and
classic documentaries exploring the world of these iconic image makers.
Fashion Loves Art Loves Fashion exhibition, at Sophie Gannon Gallery,
Richmond will showcase a collection of gems gleened from the creative
coupling occurring between art and fashion in Australia. Featuring
collaborations from Romance was Born, Scanlan and Theodore,
Rittenhouse and Josh Goot.

Hearts and Crafts at NGV is a documentary directed by Frédéric Laffont
and Isabelle Dupuy-Chavanat that pays homage to the artisans of the
numerous Hermès métiers.

Linda Jackson exhibition at NGV, is the first solo exhibition of Linda’s
work and will feature a number of rare and unique early pieces which
embody a particularly dynamic period in Jackson’s career during which she
was defining her visual and design language.

QV Lunchtime Style Series of live workshops at QV Square, is presented
by Melbourne’s most fashionable to give you tips to take home today’s
trends from fashion to home décor.

Windows by Design presented by the City of Melbourne and supported by
Peroni and Harper’s Bazaar, partners key Melbourne retailers with local
design talent to develop incredible window displays. Curated by Alex
Zabotto-Bentley and his team from AZBCreative.

For more information on the2012 Cultural Program please visit the LMFF website.

L’Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival tickets are available through Ticketek or online at lmff.com.au.

Packing pains. Again.

There's something magic about packing for a summer get away.  Floaty colourful things are a go, bright nail polish a must, the fake tan isn't out of place, a small clutch bag fits all the necessities (ie. a credit card and a tube of Maybelline Coral Crush lipstick).  

Despite painstakingly planning my suitcase for months before jetting off to Paris, as I've mentioned a hundred times over, I packed completely and frustratingly wrong.  On Saturday I'm off for a week back home to Queensland with a lot planned in a short 7 days... family lunches, catch ups with friends and a quick getaway to Noosa.

I did a huge cull of my wardrobe over the new year break and listed a bunch of things in eBay for 99 cents (some of which I paid over $700 for once upon a time when I had disposable income a plenty.) If you're interested check out username:bk6076

I am completely uninspired by everything in my wardrobe and fortunately have some pennies to spend on a couple of things on my lunch break tomorrow.  I want an amazing printed statement dress and a loose silk blouse.  I've left things to the very last minute so tonight I'm handwashing delicates and ironing in the stifling heat.  Serves me right.  Not to mention my obsession with making sure the house is spotless.  There is nothing that will ruin a post holiday feel than coming to back to a dirty house.

Couple of things are ready to join turquoise and bronze accessories, white shorts and a linen dress in my suitcase:

Studded Witchery Sandals

Witchery Leopard Clutch

Tinted moisturiser and a bright lip.  And nothing else cosmetics wise.  Gulp.

A fun flirty dress, like this Country Road Snake Print number.

WANTED: Zara Sequin Wallet/Clutch

I'm going to be a pain in the butt and put out a call to my readers to see if anyone can help me get a hold of this Zara bag.  I STUPIDLY didn't buy it in Prague NOR Paris despite totting around every Zara I walked into with it in my hand.  I can't stop thinking about it.

Happy to pay a reasonable premium and postage and inconvenience fee.

Thanks in advance xx

sheworeitwell.blog @ gmail . com

One of the best things about 2011 was you, Prague...

Feelings of wonderlust whenever I look at the photos.  I'm procrastinating posting them, so I can keep writing about Prague all year...

The Old Town Tower as you approach Karlov Most, in astonishing gothic style.  

Crossing the bridge... dotted with 30 statues.  

If you rub St John being thrown into Vltava River and make make a wish... When in Rome!

Foggy morning view from a park I stumbled onto on my last day (which ended up being my favourite spot in Prague...)  This is the view when it's not foggy.