Absent

It would appear I have been absent from blogging for a little while. I wish I could say I had an incredibly exciting life which impedes my ability to blog but sadly for me , that is not the case!

I did go for a drive up to Leura in the Blue Mountains last week with T, that was actually a really nice day. Being a public holiday it was twice as nice. 

 I'm turning into my mother. I spent an inordinate amount of time repeating "It's just soooooo beautiful here!" to no one in particular. It's hardly my fault it was such a stunning day.

I mean would you look at that view! I love heading out of the 'burbs and getting a temporary hit of fresh air. So rejuvenating.

BAM! I got my hair cut! Fringe galore! My cowlick is causing all sorts of issues but it's nice to have a change.  

How much do I love MAC Russian Red lipstick by the way? Probably sooooo much.

Moustachio continues to be supremely cute. He also nearly gnawed my leg off as I ate pineapple in front of him the other night. We had a repeat performance this morning. The frantic meowing was kind of hilarious. He didn't seem to want to hear that cats probably aren't fans of tropical fruits. CUTE!

In other news that doesn't require me to add a lame speech bubble, I have a new JOB! I finish my current role in two weeks time and then on to bigger and better things. I am equally excited and nervous! I am also glad I do not have to attend any more interviews any time soon. Although they all went well , I am not a fan of rushing from the city to work all before 9am! I really do need to purchase a few new items for my work wardrobe which leads me to ask......

Where are we all obtaining our work appropriate clothes/shoes these days? Please share!

Wine & Cheese Night!

On the weekend I decided to dedicate a night to indulging in two of the things I love most in this world - cheese and wine! Combining the two is ALWAYS a good idea. I felt like hanging out with the girls and having a few drinks without having to organise taxis and outfits ( gah, the worst part of going out!) and I have to say that being in stumbling distance to my bed was a pretty awesome perk ha ha!

Moving on, what is a cheese and wine night without CHEESE?!

Oh sweet lord, so so much cheese. But not too much, because too much cheese doesn't exist in my world. 

I bought a small bunch of these white flowers from the supermarket to spruce up the table but it just wan't enough so I went through a wander out in the garden and picked a whole bunch of jasmine, leaves, and pretty much anything else that had botanical qualities! As you can see I ended up with three vases/ jugs and added some candles to set the scene. 

Brassiere Breads' olive and rosemary loaf, the cheese pictured above ( with little flags marking which was which), quince jelly, fresh figs and sesame sticks for starters! The arrival of my girlfriends saw many other delicious goods added to the table, albeit for a short time before I devoured them!

I of course had wine too, however the stupid picture kept uploading sideways wahhhhh!

My bestie bought along some macarons and mini gelato cones! You can see why she is my BFFE right?

Such an awesome night and the best part was that there was no cooking involved so all the more time to chat , eat and drink the night away!

Do you love wine and cheese? What do you and your friends do when you get together?

The Best Day Of My Life

Yesterday started like any other day. I woke up, battled through traffic to get to work and spent way too long pondering what to have for lunch ( sushi). Little did I know that something was about to happen, something that would change my life forever......

J.CREW NOW SHIPS TO AUSTRALIA! 

Excuse my while I rejoice and plan my assault on my savings as I contemplate whether green or fuchsia capri pants are needed in my life.

Happy shopping!

Delicious Treats

I've been indulging in quite a few yummy things lately!

On the weekend I went out for high tea to celebrate my girlfriends' birthday!

What is it about crustless and cut up sandwiches that makes them so much more delicious? I always wish there were more sandwiches at high tea!

I usually go for the Russian Caravan tea ( I do love a strong brew!) however opted for the traditional Chai and my oh my it was delicious!

A glass of sparkling wine never goes astray! Such a lovely afternoon hanging out with friends and eating to my hearts content!

In fact, I loved it so much that I was equally excited to meet up with Rioters Bloc the very next day for some more scone action! Ohhhhhh they were so delicious! 

We went to The Tea Cosy  at The Rocks and it was great! Big fresh warm scones and lovely thick cream, just as it should be. You could even choose your own jam and I had vanilla and pear which was divine - as was the Madagascan vanilla tea that I paired with my scones. I recommend that you pop in here if you are in the area for perfect scones at a reasonable price.

Sadly I am having to pull back on my scone intake - it was a joy while it lasted!

Who else loves scones? I assume the answer is EVERYBODY!

Surprise Surprise!

I am not easily surprised. 

There have been verrrrrrrrrrry few things in my entire life that have ever truly surprised me. I actually LOVE surprises, but people seem to feel the need to tell me they have a surprise for me ( half the surprise is already ruined) and I always manage to add two and two together. I never ruin peoples fun by telling them I know and I try tell myself that maybe I am wrong, but I always seem to have it figured out. 

I remember once when T and I were young lovers and it was nearly my 17th birthday. He had bought me a fairly expensive ( given he was an apprentice and our age) dress as my present and I had no idea. Well I had no idea until one of our jerk friends was talking to me at a party a few days before and said ' Wow T must really like you to have bought you that dress you told him about". UMMM WUT! Why would you do that?! WHY? Surprise ruined. 

Having said that I have been truly surprised before and I loved it sick!

From the time I was 15 I worked in a coffee shop for 5 years throughout school and the start of uni. I used to keep another blog for a short while years ago where I recounted this awesome surprise I got while I was working there:

"So I was in bed on Sunday morning dreading having to serve crankies, clinging to my electric blanket. When i finally managed to get myself up and at it i got an awesome surprise.

My insanely chirpy little awesome boss comes in and hands me a bag.

Not just any bag but a Louis Vuitton bag!

WHAAAAAA?

Turns out she has brought me a cute little pouchette. 

I still dont know why?!

To this day I have no idea why she bought me this out of the blue, I mean it wasn't even my birthday! I was not even 18 at the time. I have great memories of working with my old boss and when I drop around to the local shops for coffee we still chat about Net A Porter and Strawberry Net ( I may have introduced a bad habit there.....) and freaky customers ha ha.

Another really cool surprise was when I turned 21. My friend L took me out for a coffee and when I opened  up my card I found out she was taking me away for a weekend in Melbourne! The scariest part at the time was that I had spent the day thinking about how much I wanted to go there again and came home after work and told me mum I was booking a plane ticket just hours before I was surprised. 

You can read about that trip here on my old blog.

So what about everyone else? Have you ever had a big surprise? Do you even like surprises? Tell me all! 

B.O.N.D.I

What an amazing yesterday was . Sydneysiders would know that the weather recently has been beyond dismal and that we are expected to have only four days where it doesn't rain for the rest of February. May I remind you that it is still summer! I knew when I woke up yesterday morning that I would have to do something REALLY good to make use of the day. 

Well all it took was for a lovely Melbournite Milijana  to post photos on Instragram of the beautiful views of Bondi and it was decided, to Bondi I would go. And by go I mean eventually go after two hours, a train and two buses. One would think I was travelling from Perth, not within Sydney.

I'll let the photos do the talking. 

Bondi Icebergs

Atonement, which I picked up from the markets and read on a grassy hill.

Imagine waking up to these views? So beautiful.

Bondi Pavilion

Looking at the cliffs towards Bronte. 

Love the natural landscape against the sea. 

It is easy to see why Bondi is so iconic. Sure, there are plenty of beaches that surpass it in beauty in Australia but the atmosphere and crowds combined with more blue sky then you could poke a stick at really does give it a special feel.

I had lunch at Ravesi's and continued reading. I ate lychee gelato. I dipped in the water and dug my toes in the sand.

It was completely refreshing and exactly what I needed. Sometimes a girl needs a day alone in a beautiful location to collect her thoughts and regroup. 

I'm sure the lovely Kirryn would agree it was an amazing day!

Where do you like to go to recharge your batteries? Do you enjoy 'me' time by yourself or do you prefer to have company to bounce your thoughts off?

Facing lots of challenges this week, in a good way. Wish me luck xx

Another Weekend Wrap Up

Continuing on from Friday......

I went to see Kanye West's concert! I loooooooveeeeeeeee Kanye, I think his songs are amazing and I spend a good amount of time rapping along to them each day while I am driving. Actually, the way I rap the songs is so passionate you would think that it was ME who wrote them! You don't even want to see how I behave when Gold Digger comes on when I am at a club. I don't want to see that either, it is sure to be horrendously embarrassing. 

ANYWAY, the concert was great although I do wish he played more songs from College Dropout which has some of my favourite tracks i.e School Spirit, Last Call and New Workout Plan. Oh well! 

It was a great night and the crowd was really into it which was great because there is nothing worse then being in the seating section and wanting to dance but everyone else is sitting there with a bored look on their face. 

In between dancing like a maniac I was double parking with gin and tonics and excitedly tweeting the lovely Ballet Flats who was also there. 

This is my sister and I before we left. She is so tall wahhh not fair! 

Ahhh yeh...... that is one terrible picture of Kanye haha. 

I took this one short video, but I couldn't help but notice people were standing there videoing the whole thing on their crappy iPhones?! Surely it would be better to actually watch the concert and use your MEMORY to recall how awesome it was instead of a grainy screechy video like the one featured below haha. 

Yesterday I was waiting for T to come back from Melbourne and to avoid having my second nanna nap of the day ( addiction) I made an easy butter cake. Topped it with some rosewater whipped cream ( YUM!) and strawberries and took it to share with T's family. Nice and easy dessert. 

Had a few glasses of wine which always go down well. Severe lack of cheese was noted. 

Went to my favourite breakfast/brunch/lunch place for a late lunch. Wildpear! It is a little place is a nursery out in Dural and it is so surprisingly good! If you ever in northwest Sydney and in need of food you should go there!

Behold the magnificence of fig and ricotta bruschetta with mint and orange blossom honey. SO. FREAKIN'. GOOD!

Wildpear people! That is where it is at! Google it! 

I love figs and I really need to pick up a box from the many roadside stalls near T's place. I find that they tend to spoil quickly though?

Oh I also made a trip to Bunnings on my own accord to buy a new plant for my room ( Read: To replace the one that met an untimely end after a extreme sun/too much water ) incident. At $2.50 a pop  it is a much cheaper option then fresh flowers!

As I had just finished at the gym I was really keen on a sausage sizzle but it wasn't ready yet. THIS IS WHY I HATE BUNNINGS! Too much walking and the denial of sausage sizzles. You've crossed me one too many times! 

Finally, I went ahead and bought the much lusted after Acne Pistol boots and they should be with me before the end of the week! SO EXCITED! Thank you Net-A-Porter! 

So that does it for me. As usual I would love to know what everyone else got up to? And does anyone have any plant growing tips to share? HELP ME! 

Ps. I shall go insane if this humidity does not up and leave ASAP! 

Bedside Manner

After recently reading Miss Holly's post showcasing her fabulously arranged bedside table I was struck by a wave of motivation and finally got around to sorting out my own! My bedside table acts as a dumping ground of little things that don't have proper homes - I figure if I make it looks nice I will be more inclined to keep it tidy!

I have been collecting bits and bobs in colours that I intend to decorate my room with when I finally get around to painting it. Please disregard my lime green feature wall which complements my watermelon pink room SO wonderfully ( blame it on fifteen year old Gillian.....).

I had the opportunity to borrow my sisters Nikon with her amazing lens so I tried my hand at some non iPhone photography. I got a little snap happy so there are quite a few photos!

Some things I had already like the Australian Women's Weekly Cookbook which is perfect for giving my flowers some height! My favourite Ecoya French Pear candle also takes pride of place.

 I brought the three blue jars for $3.00 each from Bed Bath and Table.

The blue plate is part of a set of four I bought recently. They are by Freida Plumm, a Melbourne designer. She has some lovely stuff if you check out her website. I also brought some really pretty candle votives that match but I thought it was a bit much to have them all together? I might use one....hmmm.

Roses picked straight from the garden!

I bought this glass vase from Target yesterday ($16) and thought I might stick some hydrangea in it as it also grows in the garden, but I want to try learn some gardening skills so I forced T to take me to Bunnings, words he probably thought I would never utter. There was a bit of a ..... issue. I've had this plant less than 24 hours and I nearly killed it. I put it out in the sun to get some light and two hours later it was as flat as pancake! Thankfully some water has revived it! It only cost me $2.50 so I figure if it dies I can just replace it weekly haha. Cheaper than fresh cut flowers I tell you! Don't know how well it will go without any drainage. It's an experiment!

I put some blue stones at the bottom, can't see them as much as I thought i'd be able to.

I tend to collect pretty cards to be repurposed! This is from the Bond No. 9 shop on Bleecker Street NYC. Perfect to hide the stain from when a bottle of nail polish leaked out onto the table! Will be replacing the table shortly - hate blonde wood!

Chanel perfume card until I can find a suitable sized photo of my beau!

I'm so happy with how it looks! Can't wait till I can redo the rest of my room in a similar manner. I am imagining lots of white with splashes of blue- so fresh!

So there you have it! So much better to look at than a cluttered mess.

Back to work for me on Monday, it will certainly be a struggle after having the last 3 weeks off. I think I will go lay on the grass in the sun and read ( The Help is the book of choice at the moment) and make the most of what freedom I have left.....

My Life Through Pictures

Christmas lights driving on Christmas Eve. 

Finally wearing my TopShop skirt I bought in September and finding it looks great with my new necklace.

Cute little gifts from my best friend. 

My Moustachio looking very disappointed he didn't receive a cat friend for Christmas. I am SO with you there Moustachio. 

Being on holidays from work means casual outfits galore!

Received some beautiful bone china - one of the plates now being used as a jewellery dish. Love the colour / patterns. 

Cooking delicious treats including this caramelised garlic tart. So very yum. 

Rocking pink lips ( MAC Chatterbox) with matching nails ( Essie Fiesta). 

Espresso Espresso

Finally visited a little gem of a cafe before work yesterday called Circa Espresso in Parramatta.

I had heard and read good things and seeing my Twitter gal Anita visited there confirmed it must be good!

Having worked in Parramatta for a number of years, I had given up hope of ever having a coffee that wasn't bitter, made with burnt milk, or resembling the contents of something squeezed out of a dirty mop.

This place is AMAZING.

First up, the coffee is good. Not the absolute best I've had but it's actually enjoyable to drink. Big tick! They also sell Little Marionette beans which is good to know, as I really enjoyed the coffee at Little Marionette in Balmain.

I had the French toast with rhubarb, labne, pistachios and cinnamon. It was so delicious and most importantly not too eggy (vom!).

It's a small place with a very laid back vibe, and wouldn't be out of place in a lane way in Melbourne. They make the food right along side the tables , you see it all. If you are ever in the area I encourage you to pop in!

Oh I should mention the prices are extremely reasonable.

Circa Espresso - 21 Wentworth St Parramatta NSW.

In other news, check out the chocolate counter at DJ's. I picked out a box as a gift and the longer I stood waiting for the lady to tie the ribbon, the more I wanted to jump the counter and gobble them up! I managed to resist. 

YUM!

Have a good weekend all x

NoSugarVember

So if you watched my November Goals video or follow me on Twitter you would probably know that I am currently participating in NoSugarVember. Yep, a challenge to cut out sugar for the month of November. If you are interested in learning more about the finer points pop over to Natalie Carter's blog and check out this post.

I thought I would do a post about my journey so far and a comparison of the changes I have made with my eating habits. 

Breakfast:-

THEN :- Toast with  butter and vegemite or avocado, two toasted sandwiches ( with plastic cheese, the horror), yoghurt with fruit and honey, left overs!

NOW:- Grilled bacon, avocado, tomatoes, lots of rocket, small amount of goats cheese fetta, youghurt with a low sugar fruit and cinnamon. Sometimes i will have a vegetable omelette if I am in the mood. 

Before Lunch:-

THEN:- A few coffees per week on skim milk, more than occasionally accompanied by a blueberry bagel with cream cheese and honey ( oh how I miss thee!). 

NOW:- A small handful of unsalted raw nuts. As much tea ( I don't like mine with milk/sugar) as I like. 

Lunch:- 

THEN:- Most of the time I would make salads to take to work, eat fruit or tuna with biscuits. Some days I wouldn't bring anything and would get Vietnamese salads or sushi.

NOW:- Two mountain bread wraps with a spread of ricotta, sliced cucumber, grape tomatoes, rocket and some protein like shredded chicken. 

Afternoon Snacks:-

THEN:- Any form of lolly I could find in the cupboard at work ( I slayed those Minties) or a low fat yoghurt from home. There is a RIDICULOUS amount of sugar in low-fat yoghurt. Carrot sticks, salted nuts.

NOW:- Small tub of natural yoghurt with half a pear. Another small amount of raw nuts. Carrot sticks. 

Dinner:-

THEN:- Whatever we were having at home, or would make myself something to eat usually a salad or veggies with chicken etc etc. 

NOW:- Not much different, though I won't eat white rice or pasta with my meal. Instead I will have it with more veggies ( zucchini, broccoli, rocket being my favorites) or quinoa. 

What I have learnt:- 

Protein is key! I could eat enough salad to fill a swimming pool and will still be hungry 30 minutes later if I don't have some protein with my meal. 

I also don't actually miss sugar THAT much, I actually think about it less. I don't feel that I have had to sacrifice too much, and after this month's challenge is over I will let myself have a treat on special occasions. I wasn't drinking much soft drink before so not much has changed there. 

A sugar free diet isn't as boring as you think it would be. You can still enjoy two pieces of low sugar fruit a day. 

The hardest part:-

 Hidden sugar in sauces and condiments is something I need to remind myself to check for. 

Going to events like birthdays, parties etc is a challenge because that is when those little treats you never really get to have come out! No one likes passing up that kind of stuff, it's hard to resist.

Getting over the urge to get a coffee in the morning ( and sometimes a treat...). I don't dwell on it, just make a tea instead. Surprise surprise, life goes on without coffee! I am not a must-have-coffee-or-i'll-die type but I do enjoy it and this is the longest I've gone without any in a while. 

My tips:-

BE PREPARED! 

I like to do a small shop on Sunday night to get some things together for the week. I just take it all to work and leave it in the fridge and put it together for lunch each day. So much easier then getting up a little earlier in the morning to make something. 

Drink lotsssssss of water and tea. I find a lot of the time this helps kill cravings and gets you through a little longer to the next meal.

Use lots of herbs and spices to make your meals interesting. Nothing like some basil with tomatoes and avocado with breakfast, makes me feel like I could be ordering out at a cafe!

And now for the BEST PART EVER.

Since starting this challenge my stomach has been FLAT. HALLELUJAH! Since taking refined carbs out of my diet  ( white bread, pasta and rice) I have lost that bloated look and I am loving it sick.

ETA: I feel like I have lost a little weight, but I haven't weighed myself consistently as that hasn't been my focus. 

I also feel a little less sluggish, but my energy levels have not improved noticeably. Sleep and low iron is probably to blame for that. 

Well that was a bit of a long post, but I hope you found it interesting. If you've got any tips to share please do!

I'll do a quick update at the end of the month to let you know what a month without sugar feels like.