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

   

Is anybody out there?

Hello world!

I'm here, I'm here! So much has been going on that I don't even know where to begin...so I won't for now.

I've got plenty to share post this weekend, especially on the food front.

Likely total food consumption.

 

Last night I went to dinner with two of my oldest friends, Miss I and Miss D. Said dinner took place at a fancy pants restaurant, Rubicon in Griffith, Canberra. Review shortly.

Depending on how the day goes, I may also be indulging in tapas for the second time this week at new Canberra hip joint 'Playground'. And while the name 'Playground' might give off a slightly sleazy vibe, rest assured the decor is all crayons and hop scotch, with nary a leather sofa/animal print in sight.

Finally to top things off, Lily and I are antiques auctioning tomorrow morning, followed by brunch with my favourite people in the world,, my cousin Mr R, his Mrs S and my adorabubble nephew Mr Z.

Said brunch is to take place at Ona, thanks to recommendation from http://le-bonvivant.blogspot.com.au/search/label/coffee.

So all in all, cholesterol, here I come.

Talk soon.

xx Rose.

 

Malaysia Truly Asia

Hello world! 

It’s Lily here back from a fantastic Malaysian adventure. I’m sorry I did not bid adieu before I left but now I’m home I’m ready to share some of my wonderful experiences. My trip to Malaysia was the result of a hasty decision made by my good friend Miss G and I, after we found sale fares online and decided on the spot that we wanted to do a week long holiday in the middle of our semester break. Here’s to spontaneity! The holiday was fabulous, with us spending four nights in Kuala Lampur doing all things touristy, and three nights in Langkawi doing all things beachey, pool sidey, and loungey. Here is a selection of some holiday snaps. I want to note at the outset that my pictures may be dominated by food, but a wish to indulge in delicious Malaysian cuisine was half the reason we went on holiday...and indulge we did! :) 

Clockwise -fresh coconut juice, cheese and garlic naan, chilli crab (which was to die for!) 

Just in case you were getting hungry here is a picture of fish nibbling at our feet

G browsing in one of the many wonderful markets in KL 

Antique Tea House where we sipped authentically brewed green tea  

Vegetable Roti 

Chilli snapper, the deliciousness of which cannot be described 

Clockwise - beautiful Langkawi as seen from our hotel, on a yacht, and atop a mountain courtesy of a ride in cable cars

 

Whilst I would have loved to share all of my photos, I hope these snaps give you a taste of what we did. I haven't included all the wonderful photos from the temples, mosques, museums, monuments, and palace, but I can assure you Malaysia has a rich culture which we loved exploring.

Upon my return home I couldn't stop singing the praises of my holiday to Rose, which I believe I did successfully as the sister is now planning a Malaysian holiday of her own! Until next time.

Xx, Lily

How to cook a chook...maybe

Hello world!


Remember I promised the Husbands' "famous" roast chook recipe. Well turns out He can't exactly remember said recipe. I know what you're thinking, like seriously whatta lamo excuse but sadly this is totally true.

Seems the Husband is an organic cook. Not as in he only uses organic ingredients ( which he occasionally does) but a cook who uses whatever ingredients takes his fancy and just "goes with da flow". While this all sounds very cool and hipster in theory, recording his tried and tested recipes is a pain because he never tests anything!

Anyway in order to pin point exactly why the damn chook is so delicious, I'm going to have to instigate a whole new cooking session, and watch him like a stalker while 'he goes with da flow'.

In the meantime you may wish to know Lily is hotfooting off to Malaysia for a week to overdose on Laksa and Roti.

What a tragic life she has, final semester at Uni, a job that keeps enough cash flow to buy shoes but not enough for mum and dad to kick her out (not they ever would mind you) and a sister as cool as me.

Anyway no doubt she will be updating ya'll in a weeks time. As for me, despite a serious case of horrendous hayfever I've bought a few nifty items, one of which I'd like to share:

 

This Napoleon Perdis Brow Pencil is awesome. For around $28 you get precision perfect brows without the chalky residue. As a retired make-up artist (meaning I did a course at our local technical school thinking I could be the next Kevin Aucoin, mmm not so much) I thoroughly recommend it.

That about it from me today, but I'll check in soon. Totes proms.

xx Rose.
 

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