post joyeaux noël

How was your Christmas? Mine involved a stop-over from the parents on their way to Adelaide on the Eve and Christmas Day festivities with the Boyfriend, brother and sister. An easy wake-up and gathering around the tree to wish one another a Merry Christmas and see what the Big Man & loved ones had so kindly left for us. We all did very well and sat around with a feast fit for a gorgeous summer Christmas and a drink or two enjoying one another's good company.
A few phonecalls to and fro with the rellies and the day was made. Whilst we 'tried' to lay off the technology for the day... here are a few happy snaps from my iPhone.

The Newby siblings.

BF & Brosef.

Stunning wee sis, festively clad.

Christmas Day evening view.

Festive Frangipanis - handpicked by the BF.

I do hope you and yours had a very Merry Christmas.


I'm off to Melbourne tomorrow - a sweet vacay with that one I... y'know - think is the bees knees. What are your New Year's plans?

thursday

It's Thursday, it's summer - it's warm, but not totally uncomfortable. There is a pleasant little breeze that pops through my kitchen as I'm multi-tasking many a thing.

In light of a recent lay-off from my job in the design world (due to co. financial issues - it's tough out there!) I have resolved to keep my hands busy and my mind creative so as to not lose too much steam and keep one's soul happy.

Yesterday, I made a quirky little 'tongue in cheek' calendar (collaboration with the BF), today I'm trawling the world wide web for the perfect font for a logotype, whilst making shortbread and conjuring up sweet packaging concepts for said products. I'm quite liking my at-home baking experiences of late and pondering the idea of markets in the future. But let's just test run these delicious treats first - it's a little exciting! ;)

Last week's success was my gingerbread men and mango chutney. I cooked up a batch of gingerbread men and took a jar of chutney to the Boyf's house Christmas dinner, and to my surprised delight it was a hit! I've never cooked anything so fancy before and feel this may have ignited a little flame of passionate curiosity for the kitchen. Especially when you see those around you enjoying it.

This year will see a small Christmas at home with the BF, brother and sister. My parents will be in Adelaide, so the success of Christmas lunch and dinner rests with us. We have the turkey and ham (and mango chutney), we will have the gingerbread men and shortbread, but the rest is something I'm looking forward to putting together. Summer salads and seafood perfectly matched with our drinks and refreshments of choice. Let's hope there is a gorgeous breeze to accompany the day!

It's nice to be able to focus a little more on the blog aswell, despite the employment situation is not ideal. I am really looking forward to establishing more freelance opportunities and seeing what else is out there. In the meantime, creative freedom is here. Time to extend one's creative abilities, to collaborate and enjoy the summer season.

Mixing the butter, sugar and flour. 

The Christmas ingredients - cranberries, almonds, pistachios and white chocolate!

Where it all comes together. Cookie cutters galore! 

My festive oven mit ready to take the first batch out of the oven! 

My first batch of Christmas Shortbread is a success. Huzzah!

What are your plans for Christmas? Not many sleeps now!

Happy Thursday.

X

in the summertime

... when the weather is fine, you can reach right up and touch the sky - or straight for the peppermint oil.

This little bottle of liquid gold is essential to the hot summer days we're experiencing here in Brisbane right now. A dab on the nape of your neck and temples and you are instantly one cool cucumber. 

Refreshing, and all natural.

{young living}

affirmation

Starting a fresh.

Hello.

{quote found in this here book}

i am grateful

I've thought it's about time to share some of my photos taken for the I am grateful challenge. It's funny (and a little cliche perhaps) how the simplest things really do bring you the most happiness. From the blessing of embarking on a brand new day, to picking veggies of an evening - for these simple pleasures you have to be grateful.

Morning : Waking to a Brand New Day #iamgrateful

Purchase : a box of mystery goodies from The Fancy #iamgrateful

Food : These delicious lo-carb protein bars. The perfect office snack! #iamgrateful

Routine : Picking up the BF, admiring the subtle festivities of Riparian Plaza #iamgrateful

Warmth : amazing phonecalls from my cousin Casey Staar #iamgrateful

Food : Sweet sister time. Priceless. #iamgrateful

Quiet time : Finishing The Book Thief #iamgrateful

Routine : Our first 'big'harvest #iamgrateful

Gift : Sunshine yellow lillies, from the Boyf. #iamgrateful

Weakness : Movember lasted a little longer than expected. Loves it. #iamgrateful

Excitement : Receiving more snail mail from the North Pole. #iamgrateful

Experience : My workspace. Flowers, art & design. #iamgrateful

Counting blessings.

Next instalment to come soon.

Happy Friday

X

amaze

Today, I had one of the most heart warming experiences. A returned phone call to my cousin and I'm greeted with;

"Tell me five words to describe what makes you amazing. Come on." 

A little startled, I proceed with the standard self-conscious; 

"Uh, I don't know... um..."

"Five words, come on!"

So, I began to think what makes me amazing... a little embarassing, self-praising but here's what I went with:

1. Red hair (standard, really)

2. Compassion

3. Love (naff perhaps, but true)

4. Hard working

and Casey prompted me with number 5. Creative, followed by a 

"Don't you feel amazing? You are amazing".

This was honestly one of the most unexpected phone calls, but truly made my day. And so after telling her just that and that she is amazing, I had to go and share the good vibes via sticky note to one of my work mates.

Warmth: Phone calls from my cousin #iamgrateful

I recommend be startled with such questions in the future.

Happy Thursday.

the right time

Good morning.

It has been a while between lengthy posts, but I am up bright-eyed & bushy tailed on this gorgeous Spring morning, sipping on peppermint tea and eating a delicious breakfast - all pre-work. And so while I've got this sweet little space in time, I thought I'd share my latest project with you. Small, but so sweet and significant - and what I think is a lovely project to embark on at this time in my life.

A couple of months ago, my lovely blogger friend Jazzie Fizzle, created an Instagram Photo-A-Day project called "I am grateful". We live in a day and age, all hustle-bustle with less time to sit back and appreciate the little (and big) things in life.So, I thought this would be a lovely way to acknowledge some of things I am truly grateful for and enjoy the creative process all at once.

Have you partaken in the "I am grateful" Photo-A-Day project? If so, I'd love to see what you came up with, creatively and those things that make you smile, breathe easier and just want to be a better person.

Here are my first couple, Happy Thursday!

Person : This big sleepy cat. #iamgrateful

Comfort : A cup of Twinings peppermint tea. #iamgrateful

where to from here?

I, perhaps, a little...

{my one}

día uno

Day One of the Mercedes Benz Australian Fashion Week, here in Sydney, saw the lovely Casey Staar and I pound the pavement from the Shangri La, to The Establishment, to the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay and back to the Shangri La. An afternoon of various designer collections, previewed with the chance to buy, backed by stunning views saw two very stylish and happy ladies strut their stuff through the city.

Hesitant to take too many pics of unreleased collections (pre runway show), I for now snapped a whole lot of gorgeous scenic Sydney snaps. Beginning with my morning coffee run to the heights of the afore mentioned hotels. Mid afternoon until dusk allowed some beautiful shots, instagrammed to perfection.

Coffee, Tea & Me - Redfern

Inner city view of Centrepoint Tower.

Georgia Osbourne's latest collection, on racks. The Harbour Bridge in the background.

The one & only, Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Lady herself, The Sydney Opera House.

One of my favourite shots so far.

Model, tourist, designer, model, designer. Oh - just the passing foot traffic ;)

A little layering, at dusk.

And well, Day Two has begun, so the lookbooks and goodies accumulated will have to be shared a little later.

Happy Tuesday!

bondi

Saturday afternoon saw the family and I head to Icebergs at the iconic, beautiful Bondi Beach. Whilst it was a little too fresh for my liking as far as taking a dip goes, the pools radiated luminous hues of blue and had plenty of Sydney-siders, enjoying the southern sea. 

 And here you have the famous beach sweep, from the southern side.

Sydney, I like you.

recap dos

I again participated in a Photo-A-Day challenge, but fell off the band wagon towards the end of the month. But while I kept the snap-happy spirit alive - this is what I came up with.

Point and shoot.

March

Up
Fruit
My Neighbourhood
Bedside
A Smile
5pm
Something I Wore
Window
Red
Loud
Someone I Talked To Today
Fork
A Sign
Clouds
Car
Sunglasses
Green
A Corner Of My Home
Funny
Before/After
Delicious
Kitchen Sink
Toy

I'm interested to see what you all came up with if you participated. Be sure to email or tweet me a link!

toy

March 30 : Photo-A-Day

Toy

From a dear friend, on their Nepalese travels.

kitchen sink

March 22 : Photo-A-Day

Kitchen Sink

delicious

March 21 : Photo-A-Day

Delicious

before/after

March 20 : Photo-A-Day

Before/After

funny

March 19 : Photo-A-Day

Funny