On my plate

Part of getting back on track is eating breakfast. In my previous life almost every meal involved sugar and unfortunately breakfast was skipped. I was much too tired to wake up any sooner than 5 minutes before I had to leave the house so I was a walking, disheveled, hungry mess most days.

I am not eating dairy in the morning, which causes a huge problem. No yoghurt or cheese is hard. Muesli and cereal with a milk replacement is also out as its loaded with sugar. Not much choice, is there?

On my plate today is an egg white omlette/scrambled mess. Toast with avocado and a giant pot of T2 French Earl Grey.

Gen parfait

Melbourne is perfect in the summertime, no doubt.  There are so many things to do as the city really comes alive.  I feel a million times better when the sun is shining! I'm moving house in 3 weeks (oh the horror that comes with packing) and I still haven't properly unpacked from my trips but following a rare Sunday sleep in I ventured out into the city.  Goodness only knows how rare nice days here are and if the next one will happen any time soon!

My new bag!

Call this a beach outfit if you will, but when you spend 10 months of the year sorting through layers and building them in the morning, stuffing your swollen feet into boots you just want to throw something on and run outdoors

And a big thank you to the stars of world tennis for putting together Rally for Relief for Queensland flood victims.  $1.8 million raised in a matter of hours!

I'm off to the tennis again today - not many days of annual leave remain :(

xxx

Dad's French Toast

My dad was and still is, a sports nut and as I was growing up, while it snowed outside, we spent many days and many nights watching football matches, ski jumping and Cowboy and Indian films.  They were my favourite.  I loved spending time with dad.  We did exactly what I wanted to do and that suited me just fine ;)


Dad also always cooked my favourite food - French Toast being one of them.  I do enjoy going out for breakfast a lot, but I also love making FT and reminiscing about my childhood.

4 eggs make about 8 slices.  I like to make the mixture on a flat plate - a bowl is too difficult to dip bread into.

Throw in a pinch of salt, a couple of tea spoons of flour and about 1/4 of milk and beat with a fork until mixed.

Dip both sides of the bread into the mixture.  I do it quickly, as I don't like my FT too soggy.

Throw into a hot frying pan with some melted butter

And enjoy!  My favourite FT is drizzled with honey with a dollop of sour cream.

Served with herbal tea and a chocolate (I rest the chocolate on the hot tea cup, so it's nice and soft and beginning to melt)

Masterpieces from Paris - an amazing day!

Perfect day, immersed in some of word's best artwork.

4.47am - the alarm woke me and I wasn't in the mood, I didn't have the best night's sleep, but an exciting day awaited me.  I had been intending to see this exhibit for a few months and the day was finally here!

5.33am - leave for the airport

6.55am - reach the airport, join the express lane and check in.   Flying with Tiger when on a tight, 10 hour schedule was always a risk, but it paid off and there was no hassles

7.10am - departed Melbourne for Canberra

8am - touch down in Canberra, walking off the plane and I realise I've left my prescription glasses on board!  An art exhibit whilst practically blind?  IMPOSSIBLE

9am - finally get my glasses from the ground staff

9.15am - pick up my hire car and head off to breakfast

9.30am - breakfast is at Silo Bakery a highly recommended spot in Canberra's Kingston

These tarts are honestly amazing!

The weather in Canberra was terrific, a warm mid 20's with autumn colours of brown and red visible in the trees

10am - headed to the National Gallery of Australia for the exhibit.  Lines were minimal due to timed entry, so spent half an hour checking out the rest of the exhibit before entering Masterpieces at 11am.  I spent a mesmerizing 2 hours with Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne, Cross, Monet, Picasso, Rousseau, Sargent, Seguin, Sisley and co.  Musee d'Orsay is being renovated and these exquisite pieces are touring the world.  Thus far, it has been the most visited paid exhibit Australia has ever had.  Starry Night's was spectacular.  To see the brush strokes and the signature is something a picture will never afford you.  The audio only added to it and was a wonder compliment to the exhibit.

1.10pm - walk out in a haze of wonderment with a heavy book in hand, as well as a post card and the ubiquitous fridge magnet that B and I collect from each place we visit.  

1.30pm - go on a quick drive around Canberra's sites.  My sister in law was my co traveller this time around and she hadn't been to Canberra in over 10 years.  Even though Canberra is the nation's capital, it is not the most exciting, or photogenic place.

That's me at Parliament House (wearing black tights, American Apparel tee, black Zac Posen for Target blazer, my SG eiffel tower brooch [it was the Paris exhibit afterall!!])

View from Parliament House to Old Parliament House

More autumn colours

2.10pm - quick drive around Parliament Circle to check out some of the embassies.  

South Africa is counting down to the World Cup - aren't we all?

2.30pm - onto the Hyatt for Afternoon Tea.  They called me in the morning saying there was a cancellation!

Wedding in the court yad

Bubbly!

Mini scones, creme, creme caramel... banana mousse...

The Tea Rooms

4.15pm - Departed for the airport, dropped off car and home time.

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend too!  x

“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”

Thank you for the feedback about some of changes to the layout.  I will continue to tweak with it to make it a bit more simple and user friendly.

As promised to myself and to you all, today was a productive day dedicated to a wardrobe clear out! But it was not all hard work.  B was out the door due to various commitments before I even woke up, so I walked down to my favourite neighbourhood cafe Las Chicas for a coffee, fresh juice and an eggs florentine.  I will do a proper review of this magnificent establishment at a later date.  It has been discovered by the masses and B is very impatient when he is hungry and doesn't like the wait for a table, but in my opinion, Las Chicas is certainly worth it - I'm there every chance I get!

Honestly, the hollandaise sauce is perfect and makes this meal!

So... back home to the wardrobe and this is what I began with!

Lately, everything was just placed back after it's worn in no particular order... I blame it on exhaustion at the end of each day when I can't wait to dive into bed and fall asleep.

Shoes languish at the bottom of the wardrobe :(

But not anymore!  Things are back in order.. suits, work dresses, tops, jackets are sorted together... belts have been sorted.  Shoes are back in their boxes!  Weekday clothes in the bedroom, play clothes in the spare room.

With that, I've rediscovered some old favourites and this is some of the stuff I'm looking forward to wearing over the coming, cooler months...

Helmut Lang shift dress with a low back... on it's own with a jacket or over tights and knits.  Got this at Century 21 in NYC last year... I found it difficult to shop over there as it was SO big, with so much to choose from that it gave me a head ache most of the time!!

French Connection angora cropped cardi

MK2K faux fur vest

The vest as styled in US Elle... love!

Black Halo dress - fell in love with when Lauren wore it in Paris on The Hills!!

YSL 'Lauren' suede booties

Sergio Rossi eel skin pumps.. a gift from my B :) These can be seen during the opening sequences of Devil Wears Prada when all the girls are getting ready - hahah toooootally random fact!

Mollini copies of the Chloe bow flats - these are totally knackered but I cannot let them go :(

I also cleaned out my underwear and tights draw and threw out 3 pairs!

On my shopping list for winter

• a new, black pencil skirt (threw 3 out today which are too big and ill fitting).. saw one at Scanlan & Theodore and I think it maybe the one
• new, black, fine knit turtle neck... S&T again, can't go wrong!
• Wolford tights - I'm going to give in
• Black sheer stay ups
• A large, Burberry cashmere scarf
• Another dress I can layer for winter
• A MaxMara suit... June sales ;))

Clocking some couch time tonight - doing a double session a the gym tomorrow - body attack AND body balance... ouch!  Hope you're all having a fab weekend x