Dream Escape: Portugal

Have you been following Chelsea's adventures?
I've always been a fan of Chelsea's blog 'Frolic!' from way back when I first started blogging myself...
Lately she's been travelling and updating her blog and instagram  @frolicblog  from new destinations.
Chelsea is currently in Portugal, a country I would love to visit one day...I feel like this beautiful country is often neglected with many tourists flocking to Spain, her neighbour, which I have been to and totally loved.

I imagine Portugal to be just as warm and friendly, with amazing food and cakes,  quiet villages and bustling cities with historical buildings and churches showing layers of years and life ...
It sure looks amazing!
Where do you dream to visit one day?

All images via Chelsea's Instagram feed
Chelsea's blog post on  '6months a nomad'  and how she travels on a shoestring budget
and a Creative Girl interview I did with Chelsea a few years ago

if I had a British accent....

...so this week the British accent got voted as the worlds most attractive...
that was according to some (silly/fun) poll and hey, it even beat the French accent which was a surprise for many romantics!
I think the British accent is a definite winner but then again I've always had a fascination for all things British...
Some of my favorite foodies are British…Yes! I’d be happy to listen to Nigella Lawson all day long.
I used to read her Vogue column back in the day before she hit our TV screens and her use of the English language to tantalise us with food ingredients is something I admire so much!
Even Jamie Oliver, the crazy, playful and highly energetic celebrity chef we all seem to love is delightful to watch and listen to.
Lately I’ve been obsessed with ‘Great British bake off’ and the soothing, calm voice of baker extraordinaire Paul Hollywood…
There’s no surprise that most of my favorite male actors are British.
Colin Firth …hello!! 
I was hooked on him ever since I watched the BBC series, ‘Pride & Prejudice’ - I've loved him ever since. Hmmm...
Hugh Grant in ‘Notting Hill’ was amazing too, he has not done much lately, but can you remember how great ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ was? everyone was talking about that movie for so long
… both Colin and Hugh in ‘Bridget Jones Diary’ - hilarious…
Ralph Fiennes in the English Patient (and everything else he has starred in)
...and the whole mix of fine British actors in ‘Love Actually’ - one of my favourite British flicks ever.



* Top print image
via Lu Green

a New Year and back to it...

hello! So lovely to see you on this side of a brand new year!
it feels good right?! 2015...sounds solid!
I headed back to work today after a wonderful family trip down  in the seaside town of Kiama...what a lovely little spot along the South Coast!
...close enough to Sydney to not be a drag of a traffic congested trip but far enough to feel a sense of calm and a leisurely pace...
so many beautiful vistas!
wild rough seas against smashing rocks, not one but two blowholes, amazing headlands with gorgeous views and beautiful sandy beaches too.

my blog post is picture heavy but I went a little camera-happy snapping away all week -  lots on Instagram too, this time I labelled with a hashtag so I can collate and make a little photo book!

Is it Summer yet?

it sure feels that way...
I've had a little extended blogging break, it seems to get like that during the boys school holidays especially since I also headed back at work after a wonderful week off.
Today is Friday - the start of a long weekend!  Bliss
I had some lovely plans for today ...sadly a eye infection (mine) stopped all the fun in its tracks and we've been spending a leisurely day at home.  We did manage a quick brunch catch-up at a local cafe this morning...

So back to last week.
It was just lovely.  We didn't have perfect weather everyday but that was fine too.  When it got chilly we snuggled indoors and played cards, hung out on the couch, feet up watching movies enjoying each others company.
I took these images during a visit to Byron Bay which ended in a downpour that came from absolutely no where (what do you expect from tropical weather...?) but it sure didn't dampen our spirits...

LA Stories: Stahl House

I cant believe its been a year since we visited the West Coast of America...the days, weeks and months seem to intertwine and before you know its almost time for another trip (yes please!).

As a family we like to plan and discuss where to next - its nice to dream right?!

I was going through my Holiday snapshots - all saved in computer files...downloaded and neglected - its a real issue for me as I don't think I've printed photos since 2004!! So bad!

I have to take time out and tackle my photo organisation problem and get some beautiful photo books printed...

so a year ago, we were in LA.

I had organised to do a house tour of Stahl house. Andrew took the boys to 'The Grove' as I knew they wouldn't really be keen on a House tour...

so I caught up with my friends Tammy and Michael, who are both LA locals but had never seen it, so off we went up into the Hollywood hills - there were strict instructions of where to park as the street is private and gated and who wants to annoy the neighbours?

When we arrived it looked like any normal carport but when the Tour Guide opened the back door into the property we all went 'WOW!'...like I mean mouth wide open 'WOW!'...just stunning!

The Stahl's bought the land for a mere $13,500 in 1954 and the house was designed by

Pierre Koenig in 1959. A simple glass and steel house that takes advantage of the stunning views over LA.

Perched high up in the hills with a vast drop down, here the Stahl's raised their family ...it is still privately owned by the family and these days its used for photo-shoots and commercials as well as the scheduled House Tours which pay for its maintenance.

The one thing Tammy and I agreed on when we left the tour was that we both had an urge to go home and de-clutter...being in such a minimal space creates a feeling of freedom...which is what every home should feel like!

So if you ever visit LA and want to do something fun and a little different, go visit Stahl House.

...with a pocketful of Dreams

....Concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothing you can't do now you're in New York!
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you

I heard  'Empire State of Mind' on the radio during my drive home this afternoon - it took me right back... such a great song!
such a great city!

New York, Iconic...full of buzz and energy.. it will always be one of the great cities in our world!

* Beautiful NYC
* Humans of NY
* 10 ways not to look like a tourist in NYC

Images: young
Grace Kelly in NYC and model Jean Patchett photographed by Nina Leen in her NYC apt

to Melbourne ...and back again!

We're back home...and I headed back to work today (insert sad face!)
What a whirlwind of a trip - we all had such a great time in beautiful Melbourne!
We did so much sightseeing since it was the boy's first visit to the city voted 'most livable' in the world!!!

This time I took along my worn in sneakers so I was prepared for lots of walking and lots of walking we did!!
We also caught trams which are so handy and a great way to explore the city and inner city neighborhoods looking for interesting things to see, eat, photograph and check out!  We even caught up with family too which was wonderful.


...and it was hot!
a sizzling hot Summer!
Our last day in town was a scorcher wow! what a day...we had to check out early from our apartment and with an evening flight we had the day to ourselves and I really wanted to head back to Fitzroy to visit Allison's popUp shop as well as have some lunch here but the heat was unbearable...we drifted around aimlessly seeking shelter in air-conditioned shops and city malls!
 
but what a vibrant city! - it felt so alive, bustling, busy with tourists from interstate and afar - everyone loves 'The Australian Open' such a great Summer event for a great city! Tennis mania everywhere!

We ate some fantastic food and drank some seriously good coffee...Melbourneites know how to enjoy their everyday!
I cant wait to visit again!

* more pics on my Instagram feed

a Cherry picking weekend...

Its Cherry season again!
We spent a wonderful weekend away with family and friends heading out of Sydney and onto Cowra - we stayed in Cowra overnight and on Sunday morning we all got up early and headed further inland to Young, Australia's Cherry capital! ...we stopped at a local bakery for breakfast and then straight onto the farms as they predicted a scorching hot day!
The outskirts of the town are full of stone fruit farms - Its always a treat to pick your own cherries...so fresh!  So sweet!  We even got apricots too (my fav fruit!)
The kids had a ball and we left before the heat really kicked in arriving back home with enough time to relax before the start of a new week!
Today I made a Cherry Clafoutis -  I used this recipe  but my oven has been playing up so I had to bake it for twice as long as the recipe stated ...it was really yummy!

Im a winner!

I was super lucky to win a gorgeous cookbook ‘Bill’s Italian Food’ by Bill Granger,
from a giveaway over on Catherine’s lovely blog ‘Farmhouse home’ –  Thanks sweet Catherine! it’s always wonderful to come home to a parcel at your door step.
Happy Mail!

 I love cookbooks and this one is a beauty - I'm thrilled to be able to add it to my cookbook collection – stunning images, delicious moth-watering photos along with beautiful Italian scenary that makes you want to jump on the next plane and enjoy a foodie holiday …gelato anyone?
it’s chock full of recipes I want to try out!
Ive already made the spicy beef ribs – so good!

It was lovely to see Bill Granger has been busy with a relocation to London, a new cooking show and opening new restaurants & eateries in London, Japan and Hawaii – an Australian success story!!
Good for him!
Passion and hard work pays off and in Sydney we still have ‘Bill’s’ in Darlinghurst,  which he opened at the young age of 22 (so ambitious!) it still gets great reviews after all these years and the breakfast/brunch at Bill’s is always a treat!

Venice Beach Canals - California

Vogue magazine recently did a feature on jewelry designer, Irene Neuwirth's  beautiful home (top pic) situated on the Venice Canals – it took me back to our own Californian adventure...we spent a day hanging around the Venice area.
Everyone flocks to the
famous Venice beach but we started our morning with breakfast and good coffee at Abbot’s Habit, a café popular with the locals and then a
long stroll around

Abbott Kienny Blvd.
I really enjoyed the area's laid back boho vibe, creative types everywhere and interesting shops selling unique finds ...I knew I wanted to explore the canals having read about them.

We actually came a little unprepared without a map but stumbled on them having noticed a few 'No through roads' so a little bit of investigating, we found the path!

What a delightful little neighborhood tucked away and not far from the famous beach.
Beautiful homes and lovely gardens!

We walked around enjoying the tranquil canal area - a little hidden gem in Los Angeles and off the tourist path - we waved to a baby and his dad (or babysitter?) having breakfast on their porch, we said hello to others in their garden catching the morning sun...had a bit of a sticky-beek into the lovely homes on display...

* to see more of Irene's home in Venice - The Local Rose did a gorgeous feature on her blog
* Glitter Guide: Shop the Street - Abbott Kinney Blvd, Venice
* Moon Juice shop - Rose Ave, Venice
* another blog post about the Venice Canals via California Through my Lens

a post for France....

Happy Bastille Day
When I started highschool many years ago,  I was so excited to be enrolled in French class.
We had a kooky French teacher who was a little eccentric - her accent was very heavy and for an hour she spoke little English to ensure we'd follow on and learn to speak French - the three years that I had her for French, she'd let us celebrate Bastille Day and would always bring flaky pastries and delicious croissants to class!
....I dreamed of Paris and France and couldn't wait to visit!
Here is my take on 'French style' today ...a little red white and blue!
Viva la France

*images Top via TreatsSF, photo collage by me - images
Edith Miller, Lisa Cohen for Homelife, OnceWed and bottom by Phil Poynter

Paris in Love....

I'm reading the most delightful book -  Paris in Love by Eloisa James.
They say never judge a book by its cover...or title
but I did...plus it was in the bargain bin for a cheap $6.
I'm glad I picked it up though because its been such an enjoyable read so far - Ive been reading it a slow leisurely pace....

The author Eloisa James writes Romantic novels but she moved to Paris with her family and the book is a memoir of her year in Paris.  Its written like a diary (or blog posts) in short paragraphs - observations, feelings, thoughts and day to day happenings that Eloisa and her family experience in the city of lights....so funny and heartfelt!

*

Today young men stood outside the Metro stations selling bundles of small narcissuses, their stalks tied together very tightly so the heads burst into exuberant posies.  Almost every woman handed over a couple of euros, so the street was filled with woman holding bright yellow flowers to their noses, looking happy.

(an excerpt from the book...)

*images of Vintage Paris via Pinterset