Bloom

Despite the current cold snap, spring has officially arrived and with it a sense of anticipation for the fun months ahead. Blossoming boughs and longer, lighter evenings are no longer a distant memory, but a real and joyful sign that summer will be here soon enough. There is so much to look forward to - trips away, festivals, concerts, sunny evenings in the backyard with BBQs and friends.  I can't wait!

Freedom

Some days you just want to quit everything and escape....days are cold and dark, work is doing my head in - all I want to do is lie on a beach. Who's with me.

Work It

Polka dot dress / Peplum jacket, $28 / Pretty Polly nude pantyhose, $9.33 / T-strap shoes / Cole Haan gloves / Hair bow accessory / Forever 21 

I always try to dress up for work, it makes me feel better about the day ahead and it's really the only creative activity I undertake during the week! 

With the colder weather approaching I think we are all drawn to darker colours, especially in Dunedin. Lately I've been craving some bright wardrobe additions to keep the summer lingering in my life as long as possible.  

I love blue but it's not really a colour that suits me which is why these accessories are perfect. I also love the colour combination of the red and blushing cream, it reminds me of strawberry ripple icecream and hazy sunsets...ah, I'll miss you fondly, summer. x

 

Autumn Wish List

 

There is no denying it, summer has said goodbye and crisp clear autumn mornings followed by drizzly days are becoming more common. It's a little sad, but kind of nice too. As it gets colder we start wrapping up in cosy clothes, cooking comfort food and - my favourite - curling up in front of a glowing fire while the rain pours outside. I definitely prefer to stay at home over going out, so I secretly look forward to hibernation and going early to bed with a good book...boring for some but bliss for me.

I thought I'd welcome autumn with the above collection of pretty things that remind me of clear days and little creatures flustering their way through crunchy leaves.  I am in love with the deer picture, I wish it came in giant size.  The colour of the scarf just makes me think of fiery bright autumn leaves and the scalloping just takes it over the edge - so pretty. Click on the pictures to go directly to their stockists. 

Easter

Happy Easter! I'm looking forward to a long weekend, which I will fill with pottering around the house and sewing. I might even try these pretty patchwork eggs from The Purl Bee.   Hopefully I'll also get to indulge in some chocolate and am definitely planning a couple of nice long runs to burn it off!  

Here's hoping for a sunny weekend in Dunedin (except I do hope the farmers around the rest of NZ get some decent rain).

Have a lovely holiday x

Dreaming of the Sun

My partner and I have been lucky enough to be invited to a wedding in Fiji at the beginning of August, and I'm SUPER excited.  I can't wait to escape the cold and spend a few days swimming, enjoying spa treatments and cocktails in the sun..it's going to be bliss.  Not to mention the wedding which is at sunset (swoon!) and will no doubt be a gorgeous, happy event!

The one thing playing on my mind is what to wear!  I've been to quite a few weddings in the last three years, but not one in a different climate. I know I can dress less formally to allow for the heat, so I've been playing around on Polyvore to make a few bright summery outfits with matching swimwear, just for fun.  I like the idea of something simple that can be accessorised to make different outfits, which will also save on suitcase space!

1, 2, 3, 4

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

1, 2, 3, 4

 I bought the Jets polka dot bikini yesterday...can't wait to have an actual reason to wear it (as it's probably not entirely appropriate for casual Friday in the office).

x

SUNday

The most fun part of DIY - smashing stuff down

Another vintage wallpaper discovery...

Found inside the wall!

Finished fence - yay!

Oh I love you too, garden!

Our own lettuce, mint, AND tomatoes...I'm so proud!

Wow. This weekend has just been amazing. The weather was not only gorgeous but WARM as well, and it's brought out the best of everyone in our household! We've been very productive - smashing things down, building more things, doing washing, gardening, drinking lots of wine with lovely girlfriends (that was me) and trying out new recipes to create delicious food using produce from our garden.  I even managed to sneak in a laze on the couch with Food TV - bliss.

There's a lot to be said for being incredibly but pleasantly tired, and knowing you've made the most of your precious weekend time.  Can't wait for next weekend....Easter, 4 days off!  Fingers crossed the weather will be just as stunning.

Cosy Days

Rainy days outside mean cosy days inside: sewing projects, staring out windows, cuddly jumpers (and even cuddlier kitties), hot cups of tea, baking biscuits then eating too many of them...bliss.

 

The Weather Outside is Frightful

Ok, so that's the beginning of a Christmas song, but it's quite appropriate for the weather in general lately.  We're at the beginning of March, and even though it's technically autumn, we usually have lovely late summer weather here in Dunedin. But not for us in the past couple of weeks!  It's been cold, rainy and windy, so I've spent quite a few weekend days inside cleaning, making cakes and doing a bit of work for the shop.  Cosy inside days warrant cosy comforting dinners, and one of the yummiest things I made was Moroccan-ish lamb stew with mashed kumara..delicious!

I say Moroccan-ish because I didn't follow any recipe, instead I just used the knowledge I've absorbed from watching the Food Channel at every opportunity!  If I'm spending a day inside I'll have the TV on that channel rather than have music playing. I really do feel like I've learnt lots from watching all those cooking shows. I've written the "recipe" below, but I kind of just threw in what I felt like, so by all means mix it up! If you like some spices more than others then feel free to add them to your own taste. As long as you get your seasonings right and cook it so the meat is tender, you can't really mess this up*.

*Disclaimer - you might mess it up, in which case you probably haven't been watching enough Food TV.

Wintry Warming Lamb Stew (serves 2-3)

1. Brown 3 lamb chops in a large pot. Make sure the pot is on medium high heat. 

2. Add one chopped onion, 3 finely chopped cloves of garlic, and a half teaspoon each of cumin, coriander and turmeric.  Add chilli powder to your own taste. I added a quarter of a teaspoon, but also added a whole dried chilli to the mix, which I took out before serving.

3. Cook until the meat is caramelised on the outside and the onions are softened.

4. Turn down the heat to low and add a tin of tomatoes, half a tin of water or stock, and two tablespoons of tomato paste.  Stir everything together, add some pepper and leave to simmer, stirring every 15 minutes or so.  Cook until the sauce is thickened and the meat is very tender.  If the sauce is too thick before the meat is cooked, you can always just add more water or stock and just keep cooking it down. Add salt at the very end to your own taste.

I served this with mashed kumara and steamed courgettes and peas from our garden, and it was so delicious, and extremely comforting at the end of a cold wet day! 

If you want your whole meal to be in one pot you can add a tin of drained chickpeas or cubed potatoes at step 4.  If you want to add greens try stirring in some frozen peas or baby spinach just before serving, so they are heated through but still lovely and green.  Enjoy :)


P.S. There isn't an end photo because I was hungry and forgot to take one....

Green Thumbs Up

Oops. I haven't done this in ages.  It's not that I haven't been inspired, just busy. Plus I forget my camera a lot and think "this would make a great post, where's my - oh".  No matter, I'm here now!  Some of the things I do remember to photograph are the veges, fruit and herbs from my little garden. I love my garden!  We only just started growing things before the summer but we've had so much from it, for so little effort.  There's such a sense of satisfaction that comes from growing veges - it's easy, cheap, healthy and most of all - delicious! Plus I actually like doing the weeding and watering because it makes me spend time outside. 

I'm hoping there will be enough sun to ripen my tomatoes, but if not, I think some green tomato chutney will be on the agenda. Which will make a great post if I remember to photograph it.....

Something about Winter

Even though I usually dread winter, once it rolls around it never takes me long to appreciate all the lovely things that go hand in hand with frosty weather.  Of course I love the clothes - big warm coats, cute hats, bright tights and comfy boots.  But I'm more of a homebody than anything, and in winter I have no guilt whatsoever about spending most of my time inside reading, watching TV, baking, and drinking lots of tea!  And if I do go out, it's all about movies with friends and comforting pub food (and beer!).

But my favourite aspect of winter is the weather.  I love the way it transforms the city into a dreamy hazy place lit up by pale clear sun.  So during my walk to work over a few mornings  this week, rather than striding along head down like usual, I took the time to stop and take some photos.  I am in no way a photographer but I love my city so much at this time of year that I really wanted to share.