Spring Cocktail...

Since spring has sprung- so to speak- it is time to start bringing out the Cocktails!

I am a big fan of an aperitif... My parents when I was growing up used to always have Pimms by the pool or Caprioskas with nibbles before dinner. I loved this time- it was generally a great refreshing way to wet the appetite after a long day and cool down in the balmy Sydney Summer heat!

We generally went through fazes- so Pimms one summer, Dark 'n Stormy's the next depending how we felt.

This Spring / Summer I am liking the Apple Martini! I love a really well made martini- and have been on the hunt for a great recipe for apple martini's... they need to use proper stewed apples, a really good vodka, a hint of cinnamon and should take a couple of days to prepare! No short cuts! (As you can see I take my drinking seriously :) )


Stew 8 granny smith apples cored and skinned with a cinnamon stick, 750ml cloudy apple juice and a table spoon of sugar. Leave to simmer low and slow till the apples dissolve.

Take off stove and leave to cool.

Strain liquid through a sieve with muslin.

Add 1 ltr bottle of 42 below honey.

Leave in fridge for at least a day is not longer!

To serve:

Chill a martini glass and rim with a mix of sugar and cinnamon.

Strain in liquid.

Slice a piece of granny smith apple and float on top.

Enjoy!!!

Vintage inspried whimsical tablescapes....

I know, I know it's been a while since I posted about my love of vintage but today I was going through my style files and came across a few of these amazing tablescapes and thought I had to share... I love vintage tablescapes, they incorporate everything I love about vintage; delicacy, details, layers, textures & colour.





















Images Brandon Kidd,The Bridal Closet, 100 Layer Cake, Smock Paper, Handful of Treasures & Carter & Cook Event Co.

Lock it in Eddy... we have a menu!

Last night I was so excited as my brother and I locked in the menu for my Christmas in July that is now Mid-August dinner party! :)

We are going to start with mulled wine and nibbles. I live in Sydney and it is normally hot outside on the day of Christmas mulled wine isn't that big in Australia for Christmas, so thought this was a perfect opportunity to bring it out.

I am still playing with idea for first course mainly because the second and dessert are heavy and I don't want them rolling out of the house (unless of course it is because they are tipsy!) So what do you think, I am thinking figs and prosciutto, any other idea's? I want something light and clean on the pallet.

However my excitement is the main! So the first idea was traditional turkey, however I have now invited 9 people- so a turkey that size wont fit in my oven or bbq! That was a slight dilemma, however last night I was looking through recipes and saw a chicken with cider and told my brother who got very excited by the idea of me cooking with cider. I am not a massive fan of chicken because I think it is dull. So I went online to find a pork recipe with cider (since apples and pork are MADE for each other!)... And drum roll please... we found this!

Rolled roast pork loin with apple and chestnuts... Gourmet Traveller your are my God!



Classic dish but should be really tasty and fits my brothers brief for cooking with cider! I am also going to try a cider cream sauce to drizzle over the top... I will just do a simple roasted whole baby carrots, patotoe and pumkin drizzeled in a lemon, rosemary and garlic infused oil, and some fresh beans for a side.

For dessert I am doing a traditional Christmas pudding with a rum cream sauce (mum does the best sauce so using our family recipe).



I am now so excited!

Colour me happy...

After yesterday's post I went on a search to find some colour to put in the house... and have a look at someway of recreating that amazing coastal beach chic...

Reminder of inspiration...



Loving for the dinning room... Anthropologie Mina Tablecloth



With this great plate Paper Pretender also from Anthropologie...



Intermingled with this great plate for colour and texture.... Sliced Persimmon Dinnerware



Loving these glasses! Fleur-De-Lys Tumbler...



I would then put a succulent on the table for a centrepiece...



Then it really feels like it needs this amazing dish to top it off... My pick would definitely be this Snapper and Fennel Tagine!



So to be honest I feel like it is a mix between boho and folk and beach and middle eastern, but isn't that the best way to decorate? :)

Help needed to save my Christmas in July dinner party....

Ok today I promise to not write about more Orange. :)

First thing is first though I need help desperately. I wrote last week about my Christmas in July dinner party and my decorations if you remember. Well over the weekend I went shopping and largely got together my supplies for the craft side of things, however I am missing one vital ingredient- PINE CONES! I am desperately seeking help on where on earth you get pine cones from I have tried Spotlight and 2 Dollar Shops- are these in season at the moment in forests?

If you remember these are going to be the body of my little elf's that will adorn each spot- I have even imagined what each little man will do to represent the person he is made for. I am going to have one on ski's for my friend who was an Olympic Mogul skier, a snowboard for my brother, one gardening for my friend with the green thumb.



Please kindly save my dinner party and help me find pine cones! xox

Living with Orange...

More and more of late I have been obsessed with using orange somewhere in my house... I am thinking for winter I might go and splurge on a new set of cushions and play around with the idea in my living room...

Loving this print by Bucks County Frames. I am definitely thinking this might be a first purchase for the living room...













Love Love Love! Love the runner and adore the stripe!





Hehe cheeky! Bike Love by William Dohman



Images care of Slumber Designs, Unknown and Etsy.

Christmas in July...

I think I might have mentioned before I have a small tendency to go a little OTT when I am excited. So last night I locked in the guests for my Christmas in July dinner party that I have wanted to do for ages now but keep remembering in August.

So last night I turned to my brother and said oh wow I have so many idea's and he goes 'that is what I am afraid of!'. :)

So even though it is 4 weeks off I am going to start planning and buying now. This a) will spread the expense over a couple of pays and b) mean I wont be rushed off my feet on the day since this time it wont be slow cooked which means prep in the morning and give me all day to run around!

So the theme is Candy Cane (as I love red and white as a table setting). First Stop is Martha- for some inspiration and idea's.

Loving the idea of a stripped tablecloth or runner- going to go to Spotlight and see what I can find in a similar fabric!



I love the thick candles above for the table and am thinking I will go find ribbon in spotlight to tie around. Then thinking for my coffee table for nibbles one of these wreaths with a thick candle in the center... what do you think?



Ok for my place holders I am thinking these little guys... I am hoping to have them sit on top of their little take home presents... I figure they can all be in different poses if I get good enough at making them! i.e: Fishing, on one knee proposing style, one reading etc...



Keeping in the theme of candy cane- For their gifts I will make this easy candy cane fudge recipe. This can be sitting at the head of each setting with the little guy on top and a cute handmade lable with their name to act as the place setting.



And key to any Christmas Table is definitely the crackers- one year Mum made these amazing ones with great riddles from the net and personalised gifts- I got a pearl necklace, my brother aftershave etc... (Now you can see where my idea of entertaining comes from). So I am thinking I will do the same in simple white with red ribbon and find riddles and have them printed out nicely with everyone's name to personalise each one and make some funky hats to go in each cracker.



Over the table I am thinking I will hang snowflakes in red and white. I made these last year for work decorations and ended up showing nearly everyone in the office how to make them...they are really easy and look amazing.



So this is my plan for this weekend- I am going to hit spotlight and see what I can find! Then at night over the next couple of weeks I can start putting together the decorations and getting everything ready for the big day! xox

Winter survival pack...

Ok whilst I am complaining that in Sydney it is down to 5 degrees in the mornings, I know others have it worse but still I am freezing! So I thought I would put up my winter survival must haves that will keep me going through this cold snap. (And by the way to the cynics out there- a.k.a Mr M it is the coldest winter since the mid 80's- yes not as cold as Japan but still cold for here!)

Ok a couple of must haves straight up are some fashion accessories. I love a good knitted scarf in winter and because I am massive hat fan a really nice black wool fedora! And the great thing about going shopping now is it is end of year and everything is on sale! These two are from Witchery- the 'Winter Soft Scarf' and 'Black Fedora'...





Also a nice winter jacket and high boots! Also from Witchery the Rib Collar Plaid Jacket and the Black Leather High Boots. Oh and you might need the Vintage Wash Zip Jeans to top the outfit off!







Chanel Hydration Mask- if your skin is anything like mine at the moment i.e. dry and tight this is a MUST buy for winter. I am really sensitive and can't use many products and a couple of years ago a dear friend of mine who is a Chanel Ambassador gave me a goody bag from a lunch she was hosting and ever since I am a convert. It is a mask and you are supposed to use it only a couple of times a week at max but I use just a drop at the moment instead of moisturiser in the morning and my skin feels amazing! (This might be too heavy for some but still as a mask you'll LOVE it!)

You also need to deck your living room and bed room out with some winter warmers in wool. I am loving by Home Life this amazing image. I love greys in winter!



Also from Luna Gallery some fantastic wool bed accessories. Once again love the greys but I do think nice autumn colours like oranges go so well to add a splash of colour- as winter really should have colours thrown in to make it cheerful and bright and lighten the room!





In winter I am all about food, slow cooked, time intensive, hunger filling meals that satisfy the heart and soul. I find winter is all about breaking bread with friends over stews with deep glasses of red wine. This weekend I am definitely going to try this fantastic recipe from Gourmet Traveller from the Rustic Italian Recipe article 'Pork Ragu with Porcini and Muscat'.



And winter really allows for indulgence (who notices under all those layers a couple of extra kg's) so I definitely think I would have to finish with a rich moreish desert and for those who know me well a nice desert wine! Maybe a port or a muscat... Maybe this one from Gourmet Traveller from the article entilted Let Them Eat Cake the 'Persian Love Cake' (I just love the title- also would be lovely if your not entertaining a whole host of friends but just an intimate evening in for two.)



But my ultimate way of surviving winter is to call a few close friends, pack up and head away for a weekend of fires, food and wine... Umm yes I think somewhere in the Hunter would be in order! xox

Passion for pottery....

I was in Waterloo last weekend at Fratelli Fresh having lunch with a girlfriend and on the way out I couldn't resist doing a little browsing at Abode Bazaar, I saw these amazing plates that I instantly loved. Low and behold I am looking through Elle Decor today at What is Hot for June and there they are!

They are Mud Australia and glazed in beautiful pastels... on the outside is the raw porcelain and inside is the glaze... so pretty!

Table success...

How cute are these low budget table centerpiece's made with flowers from Martha Stewart? So many people dismiss flowers that are cheap (as in $5 to $10 a bunch), but look at how sweet they look, plus they are generally available all year round. I love the idea that you can make a bunch of flowers spread further by using bud vases and by using all different types you create a striking table. Though true to my heart my favourite has to be the one with recycled tins...







These images have cheered me up and given me a little summer to this awful cold weather. Hope it does the same for you! xox