Sydney Weekender

Hello world!

Hope you're still with me cuz I know it's been a little while between drinks. So, you know I had an awesome but incredibly busy time in Sydney over Easter. Somehow in the space of three days we managed to:

• pick up the ultimate nanna blanket on the way to Sydney, via a market at Exeter

• schlep to our fave daggy Asian joint, Harry's Singapore Chilli Crab (yes, that's the ACTUAL name) and consume a 2.2 kilo mud crab between the three of us (oh man, the sweetness of the crab, with the fiery chilli sauce was so good)

• race through the Museum of Contemporary Art, where I unfortunately missed the Anish Kapoor exhibition, but managed to eat the most delicious eggs cocotte at the MCA cafe

• meander around the The Rocks market, where I picked up a beautiful Silk Diva Tunic  from Anna Pryor

• scoff one of my fave dishes of all time, the roti canai, at the once hatted, yet still awesome Mamak 

• Nip into the Sydney Antiques Centre, where as someone who collects tea pots and vintage tins,  picked up the Holy Grail = a tin tea pot (what are the chances?!)

• Dash through IKEA, because I physically do not know how to visit a city without nipping into a furniture store (oh I also went to Matt Blatt on Oxford Street). AND to top it off...
• attend a Big Fat wedding of 500 (yep that's 50 with an extra 0)

Phew! Summing it all up, I'm not sure how we managed to do it without going insane, well we kinda did, but that's what happens when you travel with an 8 year old and my Mother.

Oh did I not mention that my Mother, who also travelled from Canberra, insisted we visit a random distant relative with her, in some unknown part of Sydney, because you know, we had so much spare time.

When picturing said Mother, think, Imelda Marcos/Margaret Thatcher/Martha Stewart/Oprah Winfrey rolled into one. So basically a scary perfectionist dictator with a penchant for shoes and a heart of gold, who always gets what she wants. Bless.

I'm hoping this weekend will be way less cray cray, but ya never know with me!

Until next time...Rose. xx

Flowers on the wall

Hello world!

This week’s post is all about flowers, both literal and metaphorical.

I love flowers, I like them in the garden, freshly cut in a vase, I like them on fabric, and I like being one.




Cue screech to a halt noise. Say what?? She likes 'being' a flower, lady be cray cray.

What I mean in my own weird way is that I like being a wallflower.

Wikipedia defines wallflowers as people who are inherently shy but once you get to know them, they are like the definition of awesome...

And even though many people, including some of my closest friends are still shocked by my admission of wallflowerness, it's how I've always rolled.

Like I said, it's not like I'm a total anti-social pariah or something, it's just I'd much rather stand back against the wall and observe people than be the female incarnation of Redfoo, know what I mean?

Anyway, all this talk of walls has reminded me that I recently papered one. You know so that I could stand against it, being a wallflower and all.

 The Husband doing the leg work.

 The result.

Even though I have no segway, here's some snapshots of my Birthday.



I gots me a coffee machine from super store Aldi. Now I get cafe quality coffee right at home and get to be even more manic. Yaya!

The Husband took me to the Nishi building at New Acton. Check out the amazing wooden frame that envelops most of the multi story building. It's so post modern and awesome, I really love it.

 We also went to Lonsdale Street Traders, a unique warehouse space that houses a whole range of groovy pop up stores.

 Cute vintage clothing store Hipsley Lane  is one of the many groovy stores in the Traders. I would have bought a dress had I been able to try one on. It was 38 degrees (again) and none of the stores had air conditioning. Stinkin summer!

  
On that happy note, I'mma say Sayonara.

Until next time...Rose. xx

I bought a zoo...I mean a sofa!

Hello world!

Just wanted to report what a lovely weekend I've just had. Even though it was a relatively short long weekend (stay with me) as in only one extra day off, I had just enough leisure time, combined with fun outings as to render me very very satisfied.

I also bought some stuff, some much needed, other's catering to my horrible shopping addiction, like the cardi below, courtesy of Aussie discount store, Big W.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I love Big W knits. Seriously, for a fraction of the price of high street labels, you get really good quality, comfortable knits. I paired my new purchase with my favourite polka dot dress from my trip to London last year, thanks Topshop!

See, my love for polka dots also extends to my wardrobe.

Since Lily has recently moved out of our parents’ home (which I'm sure she'll be reporting on soon, right Lilz?!) we thought it only fair (and kinda convinient) to off load some of our old furniture, including my beloved Ikea (Ektorp) two seater which previously sat in our study/den.

But, in its place now sits this super funky 1950's vinyl sofa, purchased by the Husband. 

Even though it's not something I would normally jump on (I mean this is a metaphorical sense unlike Tom Cruise), it looks wonderful our home. As I've said in the past, your home is where your heart is, and I think it should be a reflection of you.

So the Husband, who cites Frank Lloyd Wright as one of his architectural hero's and loves furniture from his era, is chuffed to have this sitting proudly in our home.  

For those in Aus, hope you're all enjoying your short week, and for those sitting in faraway lands, sending good vibes for the one ahead. Until next time...Rose. xx

DYI dreams

Hello world!

Inspired by my darling friend M (who is a prolific DIY'er) and MacGyver I have started my first ever DIY project.

I bought these chairs, featured here years ago and had always planned to revive them with a bit of colour.

It's still a work in progress as you can see by the uneven paint job, but after trying various colour combos (all white, all red, green and white etc) I've finally settled on white with dinky red arms.

We've also added more colour to our deck thanks to a vertical garden created by my very own husband. He's a bit clever I have to admit. All courtesy of a few planks of wood, a drill, some terracotta pots and wire!

My next DIY gig is wallpapering Little Rose's room. I love Cath Kidston patterns, but not the prices! so I'm thinking something like the stripes below.

Check out another of my creative friends recent dinner spread, complete with tissue paper pom poms and self dyed crochet tablecloth:

Even though I've been scared of DIY for years, it's amazing what you can do with a lick of paint and some imagination!

It may not be perfect (ever in my case) but at least it's a reflection of you!

Happy DYI'ing.

Until next time...Rose. xx

Back to reality

Hello world,

As Eminem once said...it's back to reality (ohp that goes gravity) for Da Rose. It's my first five day week at work after Christmas and let me tell ya, it ain’t pretty.

While being a work isn’t always super fun, my spirits are definitely kept alive through my weekly ritual of arranging fresh flowers for the house.

My friend, M, who is also a blogger (check out here:)  has the most amazing garden. Plus, as she lives literally down the road, I’m always popping over to drink in the deliciousness of  it.

Luckily for me, her garden, along with a myriad of other plantation, houses sweet clumps of my favourite flower, the hydrangea. Here they are sitting in my first ever teapot (one of many in my ever expanding collection).

On the Radio

Other spirit lifters for me this week, include the awesome British band, Everything Everything. Their album Arc is currently the feature album on Aussie Radio Station Triple J, and I’m loving listening to their sweet tunes on the way to, and from work this week.

There’s something so wonderful about discovering new music, or in this case, seeing a band who you’ve admired for a while, come into other people’s consciousness.

Everything Everything



This brings me to my resolution of  indulging in as much music and cinema as I can this year.

At the movies

Next on the reel is Katherine Brigalow’s, Zero Dark Thirty. I was, pardon the pun, blown away by her last (Oscar winning) movie The Hurt Locker, so am super excited to catch it when it comes out end of this month. I'm also hoping to see it at Canberra's newest premium cinema, the Palace Electric.

The Palace, located in the uber cool Nishi building in New Acton, will offer a range of cinema, including hopefully excellent, independent, arthouse and world films It is also hosting the Canberra Italian Film Festival, which I am super excited about. Check out info on the Palace and the Italian Film Festival here.

Well that’s all for now folks!

Until next time…Rose. xx

Tis the season

Hello world!

And so here we are yet again, another year almost past. Hope you’ve all enjoyed, or are still enjoying, a blissful holiday season. I know I am!

Though Christmas 2012 may be gone, its spirit is still lingering in the house of Rose, thanks to a turkey load of left-over turkey. And while I would love to fill these pages with scores of leftover turkey recipes (think turkey omelette, turkey pie, turkey breast stuffed with turkey, turkey mince, shall I go on?) I shall restrain myself and instead share with you my “other” favourite moments of Christmas 2012.

 

My love of decorating really went into overdrive this Christmas, with the perfect summer Christmas dinner planned. Up went the fairy lights on the deck, accented by yellow and white lanterns, down came the table setting with plum tree ferns and traditional red poinsettia’s, pop would go the beautiful French bon bons and...belly up would go all these plans come Christmas day, because lo and behold, mother nature decided to literally rain on my parade. Boo!

So while the much longed for outdoor dinner was never to be, here’s a glimpse of the festive table on the day:

 

Quick tip, if you’re looking to create an abundant centrepiece without splashing out on an enormous flower arrangement, why not use potted flowering plants, ferns and other au natural products
i.e candles, to create a decor fit for an...abundant centrepiece!    

I also have to confess that I did very well the Christmas present front.

A quick rundown of my kitty includes, my beloved Lily gifting me with the gorgeous interior design book Couture Interiors by Marnie Fogg. Though the Husband may have his faults (as we all do), present giving is not one of them. See glimpse of black and white stripey ballet flats and cute doggy slippers, courtesy of Country Road and eponymous sleepwear label, Peter Alexander below.  

 

Our family’s collective love of Paris and Manhattan extended to my present giving, with Lily receiving a pin from the recent Toulouse Lautrec exhibition and a pillow with references to the streets of Manhattan, and the Husband receiving a block of salted caramel chocolates, straight from the chocolatiers of France.

These items were also a reminder of our amazing holiday last year, which saw us visit these wonderful cities as one big fat family (Lily, me, our mum and dad, Petite Rose and the Husband). And while it was an unforgettable trip, it was all the more special because of the people I got to share it with. So, on that note, here’s to all your families in all its crazy shapes and forms, and a safe and happy New Year shared with those you love!

Until 2013...Rose. xx

Much ado aboout nothing #1

Hello world!

In the habit of getting me to blog more regularly,as opposed to writing posts resembling War and Peace, I (and sometimes Lily) will attempt to capture a few key events/issues/purchases/ramblings each week, so that:

a) you stay with me, and

b) I can call my self a 'blogger', as opposed to person who occasionally writes random things...randomly.

I can't promise to be coherant, but I will try to be regular.

So on that vein, this week:

I'm trying very hard to live up to my self proclaimed status of being 'well read'. Thus am attempting this (review to come when I finish, which should be around 2020):

 

I'm finding it very easy to live up to my self proclaimed status of a  total money waster by purchasing a bunch of these every week (but it makes me ever so happy):

And I'm very much looking forward to presents under this (cue freak out at the prospect of entering the depths of hell, or more commonly known as department stores before Christmas) :

Oh and finally, my new headboard arrived this morning!

 

 

 

 

I chose this sweet check print by Fabric company Potpourri

 

 

 

Here's what it looks like in full. Kinda goes with my contemporary/vintage/old lady/no real theme interior style.

 

Until next time...Rose. xx

Self fulfilling crockery

Hello world!

I'm writing to you on this most lovely of evenings. As I sit on the deck, with the Husband cooking dinner on the bbq, and Little Rose scooting around on her bike, I can't help but feel pretty darn thankful.

Said deck, all tarted up.

With Christmas approaching and life in general winding down, I'm starting to go the way of Deepak Chopra, reflecting on the year that's been and making tentative plans for the one ahead.

Although many of my 2012 goals haven't really materialised (hello knitting scarf and starting post grad uni) I'm still determined to finish these projects.

You see that's the thing about self fulfilling prophesies. If I were my usual self, I'd probably be stewing in a pool of disappointment, bemoaning my inability to finish anything. But I’ve come to realise, it's this very act of self pity that stops me from progressing whatever it is I've started in the first place.

Come 2013 and 2014 and 2015 and 2016...( I'm guessing you know where I'm going with this) I'm determined to keep pursuing whatever goals I've set for myself, but instead of focusing on a finite and arbitrary time limit, I'm just going to go with the flow and enjoy the process of doing something as much as ending up at the finishing line.

So there it is friends, Rose aka Deepak Chopra’s lesson for 2012, self fulfilling prophesies are just that, something which you (the self) have control over. So let’s raise a cyber glass to that old proverb 'it's always better to have tried and bombed then to have succeeded and acted like an ass' or something.

Speaking of glasses, I recently procured the cutest tea/coffee cups. As an ardent lover of polka dots, these Maxwell and Williams cups have been on my wish list for quite a while. So what better excuse to buy them than ‘we’re having people over for an afternoon bbq and what’s an afternoon bbq without polka dotted cups?’.



 

Well that’s about it from me today, folks. Until next time...Rose. xx



    
 

Cat out of the bag

Hello world!

Exciting news. Our beloved Gibi has been featured in interior design blog Desire to Inspire's regular
'Pet's on Furniture' feature.

So proud of our kitty!

http://www.desiretoinspire.net/

Featured photo below.

Proper post soon!

xx Rose

A room of one's own

Hello blogosphere!

It's Lily here, with a title borrowed from the great Virginia Woolf. I hope I am forgiven for using her title in the literal sense, as you are about to see...

Approaching the end of my degree, I've decided that it's time for  me to venture out into the big, bad world and get a place of my own. Now I know this means I will no longer have instant access to my Mum's delicious cooking, and that I can't use my Dad having bought chocolate home as my excuse for eating large quantities of it....but moving out also means a chance to decorate my own place, hooray!

In true Lily fashion I  have already begun picking up pieces despite the fact that the moving out part is still months away, so here are my favourite finds.

I had always been dying for a dressmaker's mannequin (not because I am so talented as to actually use it for dressmaking) but because I love mannequins as a piece of furniture. This houndstooth patterned mannequin was actually Rose's find, who stumbled across it and called me in a frisson of excitement asking me whether I wanted her to buy it. As it is now lovingly adorned in my necklaces, you can see I said yes. The mannequin is going to serve as decoration inspiration for a 'boudoir of sorts' in my own place, see below!

Above are a selection of prints I have been collecting. The water landscape was picked up in a market in Kuala Lumpur, the Paris landscapes were a present from Rose from her trip to France (thanks Sis!) and the black and white photographs I got from the Salamanca Market in Hobart (which by the way are fantastic). I can't wait to put these up, and don't worry I will show you the end result :)

Given I used the title of feminist essays for this blog I thought it wouldn't be right if I didn't include something about an ass-kicking female. I recently finished reading Jane Eyre, and absolutely loved it. There is just something about a young woman in the 1800s who challenges men in a patriarchal society and asserts her independence which gets you. If you haven't already read the novel, I would definitely recommend it!

Until next time,
Xx Lily

All hands on deck

Hello world!

A quick one today. As noted in The Final Countdown, 'the dirt track masquerading as a backyard, now looking like a semi backyard' has been enhanced by the addition of the great Aussie deck.

And given a deck without chairs is like duck without water, we've recently procured a few outdoor pieces to soak up the upcoming Aussie summer.

 

The chairs with the orange cushions are my favourite piece. I love them even more because we picked them up for next to nothing at Little Rose's school fete.

 

If the weather permits, I'm thinking Chrstmas lunch outside...and on that note, gaaah two more months till Christmas. Happy holiday season!

 

Until next time...Rose. xx  

 

Weekend wares

Hello world!

As promised it's time for weekend show and tell.

Culinary Update

 

As stated in my last post, last Friday Miss I, D and I headed to Rubicon for a long overdue catch up. 

 

    

As you can see, the restaurant is utterly enchanting, especially the extension at the back with its' beautiful fairy lights twinkling above you as you tuck into dinner. And while the decor gave me food for thought (hello fairy lights on the roof of moi new deck) the actual food um didn't.

And again, while the service was reasonably attentive, I did feel a little intruded upon with the waiter constantly hovering over us with a jug of water that was ever so close to falling on our laps.

As for the food, given the $33 + price tag, plus general reputation of being a restaurant of fine foods, I was disappointed.

 



Menu highlight

My entree of red claw yabbies, with gorgonzola gratin was the highlight of menu, but the rest of my meal, along with those of Miss I and D were well... a bit bland.

On paper, the chicken with mushroom and chestnut stuffing, crisp skin barramundi with chive and potato dumplings, and wild mushroom raviolo sounded divine, but in reality the execution lacked flavour. All in all it was a nice experience but I probably won't be back again.

Onto far brighter things, I had a ripper of a Sunday, with a fabulous brunch at Ona (Manuka) and scoring two tapestries at a garage sale.

 

While I had planned to add to my collection of vintage tins at the antiques auction, I ended up walking away with a lovely vintage toy box for Little Rose, and the Husband found this awesome camera at my in-laws, who are also collectors.

So it was defninitely a Sunday of "Scores!!".  Anyway it's Sayonara for now. Until next time...Rose. xx

   

The final countdown

Hello world!

I have some very exciting news. Finally, FINALLY after three years of living in the Sahara Desert (or somewhere in Canberra) the Husband and I have started backyard renovations.

For me this is comparable to getting VIP tickets to The Oprah Reunion/ Favourite Things Show and never having to pluck my eyebrows ever again. For those who know me intimately, you know this is a BIG call.

Anyway before I get ahead of myself and completely lose the plot, basically 'the dirt track once masquerading as a backyard' is slowly looking less ‘dirt like’ and I guess more respectable ‘family home like’. See evidence:

Of course the sum total of my contribution to the renovation has been Googling “landscaping Canberra” and procuring said landscaper. I know it’s sooo hard right? but someone had to do it. So while the landscapers have been hard yakking (which to non-Aussies is an Australian colloquial term from um olden times meaning ‘hard work’) I’ve been hard knitting!





I’ve always wanted to knit, but having been hindered by a fear of fiddly activities I’ve generally avoided anything crafty. But my lovely colleague at work Miss B has taught me that just because something is fiddly doesn’t mean it’s not satisfying, bit like playing music I spose. I’m still totes at the beginner stage but Miss B tells me I’ll get the hang of it in no time. We’ll see eh?


That’s about it from me folks and before any of you get all “hold on there little missy, you promised in your last post that you’d put up photos of your dinner party”, I confess the dinner went so seamlessly that I completely forgot to pull out my camera. I mean fancy hosting/attending a social gathering and not putting up photos on Facebook/Blogger/Twitter within a nano-second. Some people are so weird...

Anyway all jokes aside it was super fun and I really did mean to share it with you but my camera died and I was too busy eating and hobnobbing. No photos this time but chook recipe up toms. Totes proms.


Lots of love for now. Until next time...Rose. xx

The perfect tableau

Hello world!

It's Rose here. I'm on my first day of school holiday duties for Petite Rose. Last week my beloved sister Lily took the honours and I am ever so grateful.

Lily as well as being a wonderful sister is just about the perfect aunt. If ever there was a relationship built on mutual admiration and love, it's Lily and Little Rose. From the moment Little Rose was born, she's been absolutely besotted with her aunt. Perhaps it's an age thing, I mean which little girl doesn't want a glamorous younger aunt who showers her with maternal love and presents.

I think however with these two it goes deeper than that. Although my mother (and father for that matter) have always doted on Little Rose, and the Husband and I are generous and loving (as well as firm!) the relationship with Lily is that of kindred spirits.

That's why on her first day with me, after having spent a whole week with her beloved, I'm under the pump to produce a similar week filled with jaunty outings ( they went to the movies and The Portrait Gallery for macarons) brain development (Lily somehow managed to squeeze in daily sessions of Maths and English and made it fun!) and exercise (joint sessions of Yoga).

Sheesh! Are you sensing why Lily holds the title of world's favourite aunt?!

Anyway, while I will probably never be able to recreate the time Little Rose had with Lily, and I wouldn't want to as it's unique to their special relationship, I am planning on taking time this week to do the things I've been putting (kinda subconsciously) on hold for a while. Working full time and running a family can do that to ya.

So this week the plan of attack is:

• bond with the Little One

• smell the roses (as part of my weekly ritual of fresh flowers for the house)

• take a deep breath and a step back by actually doing some meditation

• watch the new Batman, because I am a huge Christopher Nolan fan, Christian Bale is my fantasy husband and I haven't lived up to my cinema lover status in a while, and finally

• start saving for my new dining table ( hence the title of post).

Currently as it stands, I have a lovely but wholly impractical glass dining table which seats four. So if the Husband and I ever host a dinner party, I literally cannot have more than two people over.

Said table

Plus as lovely as the glass looks against my mismatched fabric and Windsor chairs, it's a pain in the bum to keep clean. Henceforth I have decided I must procure a bigger more solid dining table to host a dinner for six, and one which doesn't require glass cleaner every other day!

Fortunately, I think I've found the One on the fabo furniture website Sokol:

http://www.sokol.com.au/products/288/dining-tables/replica-xavier-pauchard-tolix-dining-table/

So here's to the perfect table for the perfect tableau!


Until next time...Rose. xx