Flickering Flames

A few of us have little fire pits we use for parties or on an evening when it feels flickering flames are an atmosphere must. There is just something about sitting around a fire outdoors. Imagine if this was the one you were gathering around. I have fire envy.

Image via A View on Design

Pop over to Annie's blog here to see more pictures of this amazing home.

Dream House II

This week my dreams are taking me to this little cottage in Canterbury, Victoria.

All images via www.realestate.com.au

If you're interested, here is the complete listing.

Fiesta Fun

Well the highlight of the weekend just gone was Tish's Mexican Fiesta. Good food, good friends, good fun. The party began on Saturday afternoon and sashayed into the evening with some of us even going around for another hit today (under-catering is never an issue!).

Love this picture of my darling niece and I around the fire so have nicked it from Tish's post :) Pop over here to see some of the great shots of the party.

Weekend Wishes

Have a fab weekend everyone!

Before & After

Because I love a good Cinderella story I thought I'd end the week with some inspiring before & after images from Architectural Digest.

Interior designer Monica Gibson makes an old Charleston bank over into a lofty home.

Now that is a bedroom I could be very happy in, read about the transformation and see more images here.

Arthur S. Pier and Sandra Nunnerley transform a Park Avenue apartment (how tragic could a 'before' on Park Avenue be?!)

So obviously I want that view but I'd also really like that little table in the corner! More pics of this one here.

Sandra Nunnerley at work again, this time to "unify a hodgepodge of styles", as quoted by AD, in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Lots more of this amazing make-over here.

Charles Allem updates an Art Deco inspired penthouse in New York.

More pictures of his work here.

...and on that note, am off to makeover myself for the last working day of the week. Woot woot!

Trinny & Susannah

Because we waited for sooooooooo long (Susannah pointed out to Trinny that she was wearing 2 different shoes when they arrived from the hotel - she hadn't noticed because of her poofy dress - and they had to wait for a matching one to be sent over from the hotel before they could come out!) I literally had a chance to write this post as it happened...

1:18

We've only been standing here for less than 20 minutes and I'm already over it, I would never have the fortitude to line up 24hrs before a concert goes on sale. Of course being in my winter woolies while it's close to boiling point in this crowd isn't helping but what's a girl to wear if she can't fit into any of her old summer wardrobe! Pick me out of the crowd Trinny, pick me out of the crowd Susannah, I need saving!

1:22

People are jostling behind me but I'm steadfast, I cannot be budged from my position front and centre (props to T for getting their 15min before me and staking our claim!). Trying desperately to make eye contact with the man with the seating power, Scott, "Throw us a bone, Scott", we're die-hards, we watch the marathons on a slow Saturday.

1:26

The music has stopped and the lights have gone on, could it be? No, of course not, it's a dainty Mel Symons here to warm up the crowd. Great dress, great shoes, great job at keeping the mob from turning on each other but a wee bit too skinny, if you ask me (which of course you didn't and maybe I'm just jaded because I can't fit into a size 4).

2:06

They are nowhere in sight, grrr, T has been swooshed off to a fab seat in the second row and I am left elbow to head with a 10 year old who has squirmed her way to the front of the pack. I guess we won't be exchanging any "remember the episode where..." anecdotes as we wait.

Somewhere around 3:00 (after being told they would be here at 2:00) Trinny & Susannah arrived and all of a sudden the sweaty mosh pit is worth it again. The ladies were their usual fab selves and worked their well known magic on eleven different women. People were transformed, mostly for the better - I would just like to know when are leggings cut of just above the knee ever a good idea, let alone if you are carrying a bit of extra weight? There were lots of tears and cheers from supportive families and of course we roared enthusiastically for the lady who's support person was her boyfriend's mate. Noice.

The shoes that held up the show.

Loads of fun.

PS When their Australian show airs next year, keep an eye out for the grey and denim blob at the end of the runway, yours truly. Even the threat of being seen on national television could not pry me away from my prime viewing position!

Melons or Eggs?

Off to see (or should I say catch a glimpse of) Trinny & Susannah who are stopping by our Westfield today.

Image via Daily Mail.

Dream House I

Inspired by Annie over at A View On Design whose blog features numerous fabulous homes, I thought I might post a weekly dream house for myself to drool over. Without further ado, this week if money were no object I would buy 8 Wunda Road in Mosman, NSW...

All images via www.realestate.com.au

If you are in the game and not just dreaming (lucky bastard), you can read through the complete listing here.

Do You See What I See?

What window has the best vista in your house? Take a breath and check out the view from Ralph and Ricky Lauren's bathroom window in their Manhattan apartment.

Image via Elle Decor.

Now while the bathroom in all it's minimalist glory is not my style, I would "moider" to look out on this!

The Great Outdoors

A few of my friends are going camping for the week. Maybe if I could do it like this I'd go along too :)

Image via Camping in Style.

Book Depository

My friend Tish tickled an old memory of something I remember hearing about but had long forgotten - The Book Depository. It is the UK's largest online bookseller whose titles usually ship within 48hrs. Are you ready for the best part? The prices are excellent and the shipping is free - ANYWHERE! They focus on selling 'less of more' rather than 'more of less' which means the odds are good of you finding what you're looking for. I have wasted no time and my first book is already here.

It's the autobiography of Stella Rimmington, Director-General of MI5 from 1992 to 1996. It's been out for a quite a few years now (first published in 2002) but I've never got around to reading it. Can't wait to get started on it, as soon as I finish what I'm currently reading, Archer's False Impression, which is very hard to put down. Just the way I like it.

Lovely Leura

We've just come back from the loveliest weekend away in Leura celebrating Mum's birthday. We travelled down on Friday and spent a lovely weekend enjoying the offerings of an historic village and all that entails.

Before enjoying a home cooked breakfast at our lovely B&B we hopped up early on Saturday morning (why is it that I always wake up with the birds when I'm holidays?), rugged up and went for a 10min drive up the road to have a look at the Three Sisters and the majestic mountains that envelop them (naturally my photos do not do them justice). Perfect timing as the crowds were still sensibly in bed and we got the view mostly to ourselves :)

After brekky it was off to explore the main village. Now, while there really is only one main street that runs from top o'town to bottom, the shopping in Leura is not to be trifled with! A few of the places we popped into:

• Elizabeth Rosa Fine Stationery (who incidentally is Australia's only authorised dealer of Vera Wang's wedding papers collection) where I stocked up on paper goodies including some lovely Cavallini & Co bookplates and cute cloth notebook.

Hmm, again my photos do not do justice!

Hear hear.

• Josophan's Cafe & Chocolate Shop where a couple of cheeky cockatoos sidled up to passers by and offered a chirpy "hello" to any who would listen or better still, offer up something to eat.

• Megalong Books where I bought a long overdue copy of Geraldine Brooks' March.
• The Cats Meow Interiors where we found a perfect paperweight for Dad...

...and a perfect purse for me :)

Husbands dragged along for the shopping sprint were kindly catered for.

A coffee stop at the Bon Ton before going on to meet up with the rest of the fam at the Everglades where the kids had the most delightful time roaming and running through the beautiful lawns and gardens.

Image via everglade.org.au

Then off to Leurella Toy & Railway museum where there was great delight in finding Alice in Wonderland memorabilia on special display and a working railway outdoors. Ahhh, something for everyone.

And to complete all things train and rail it was off the ZigZag Railway on Sunday morning where we were greeted by Thomas himself and a fat Fat Controller who patiently had his photo taken with a gazillion children,

Such a lovely weekend.