Happy Friday

Happy Friday

Because of the power board being upgraded at our place along with a heatwave, for the past few days we were on a staycation at Southbank not too far from us!  We stayed in a lovely hotel with a beautiful view, nice food and lots of fun places nearby. The first building is a new tower[read more…]

Film Friday

Film Friday

A few old photos I found recently while digging out my photo albums. Happy Friday!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween all (if you celebrate it that is). Here are some spooky stories if you’re game! Haunted places and ghost stories of Brisbane; and Village of the Dead: The Anjikuni Mystery

An old cemetery visit

An old cemetery visit

I love historic cemeteries, they’re fascinating, poignant and peaceful all at the same time.  Lafayette Cemetery in New Orleans is on my wish list (I’m weird, I know!) and when I backpacked around Europe years ago, like a lot of gen-Xers, I visited Jim Morrison’s grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery which was sort of touristy yet the cemetery itself was[read more…]

1990s playlist

1990s playlist

 Oh yeah the 90s!  Talk about overdosing on nostalgia. My uni days; an era in music which personified alternative/indie, boy bands, grunge, angry chick songs and dance music, this will always be my favourite decade because, well, let’s face it, it was the last true iconic, or at least, easily recognisable era.  So if you want to check out my mega[read more…]

Home made vanilla brown sugar body scrub

Home made vanilla brown sugar body scrub

Years and years ago, I ordered some vanilla brown sugar body scrub from an online fancy cosmetic store for about $40.  Clearly I had more money than sense at the time …. when I used it (and it was lovely) I noted it only had a few ingredients in it and thought how easy it would[read more…]

Bowies Flat Wetland, Coorparoo

Bowies Flat Wetland, Coorparoo

This man-made wetland down the road from us is a lovely little calm hideaway right in the middle of our suburb.  With friendly quacking ducks, birds, butterflies and greenery and featuring a boardwalk, I love wondering down there, taking photos and just sitting in the sun.  If anyone lives near me, it’s a sweet little place! [read more…]

How to Be Alone (the book!)

How to Be Alone (the book!)

A few years back, I shared this beautiful short film directed by Andrea Dorfman depicting a poem by Tanya Davis, which sort of changed my life.  I spotted recently that an illustrated, hard cover pocket book has been released, based on the much loved poem in the short film. Video belongs to: Andrea Dorfman

Homemade lavender bath salts

Homemade lavender bath salts

I’m currently growing lavender which isn’t flowering at the moment, but still has sweet smelling leaves.  So, I thought I’d give some homemade, relaxing bath salts a try since it’s become cold and frosty here.  I just threw them together with stuff I either had in the cupboard or purchased from the supermarket – a handful in your hot[read more…]

Stylish hair I covet

Stylish hair I covet

Hair defines a generation doesn’t it?  It can also mean the difference between pretty and knock out gorgeous. Here are some ladies whose hair styles I love, all of which seem to stand the test of time and with, let’s face it, a bit of a crush now actually. (Blondie via) (Brigitte Bardot via) (Winona Ryder via)[read more…]

International Women’s Day 2013

International Women’s Day 2013

For most of us, International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of women everywhere, past and present. I feel blessed in Australia because I live in a country with wonderful people, social welfare, health care and education, healthy fresh food, security, a  roof over my head as well as a lot of lifestyle and career choices offered to me. [read more…]

Oh so hot

Oh so hot

Well pretty much all over Australia right now we’re experiencing some record breaking hot weather, (poor Sydney as well as other cities will be 43 or even higher (!) today – that’s 109.4 to any US readers), with no rain for months, extreme fire danger and several out-of-control bush fires.  And it doesn’t look like letting up for the[read more…]

Halloween spookiness

Halloween spookiness

We don’t really celebrate Halloween so much here in Australia, although I think in some parts kids might do a bit of dressing up and foraging for sweets and treats and such. The only Halloween I know was when I was around 8 years old or so and travelled to the USA with my family to visit with some friends and relatives[read more…]

Some music for today – Metric’s Breathing Underwater

Some music for today – Metric’s Breathing Underwater

  I seem to be in a musical mood lately.  I heard this song by Canadian Indie band Metric from their album Synthetica on the radio a while back and thought it was lovely; lead singer Emily Haines’ pretty, sweet voice with sort of bubbly, shiny music and cool lyrics.  I love it. (Image is my own photo)

The Cottage Garden Nursery at Coorparoo

The Cottage Garden Nursery at Coorparoo

Yesterday I visited this gorgeous, sun dappled garden centre just down the road with on-site florist, vintage wares and cafe, and couldn’t resist taking some photos while browsing for some spring seedlings and potting mix and such. Beautifully kitted out with friendly, helpful staff situated in one of the leafiest parts of East Brisbane with lovely old bohemian homes, as yet untouched[read more…]

A story

A story

I don’t often go into personal things on my blog but thought I’d share something today: Walking past this framed photo on my hallway desk of my late mum (on the right) and aunt Suzie when they were young makes me both sad and smiley at the same time. Suzie, my mum’s sister, died of breast cancer when I[read more…]

Ooh lala.  Sweet lingerie

Ooh lala. Sweet lingerie

I thought I’d be a bit sexy today and link some cute knickers I’ve seen about: (from:  myfairmaiden @ etsy (Canada)) (from:  zodee (AUS)) (from:  deshabille (AUS)) (from: arts-science collection (JAPAN)) (from:  shopruche (USA)) (from:  stevenalan (USA))

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey

Am loving this fun, captivating, British drama.  If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, you just might be surprised. I really can’t stop watching it.  One night I stayed up until 1.30am watching 3 episodes in a row and had to make myself go to bed.  I just don’t know what it is about it, but it’s wonderful! Have[read more…]

This Life -v- 1996 was a good year

This Life -v- 1996 was a good year

I used to love the 90s series This Life!  Still do actually.  Apparently BBC filmed a sequel a while back, about the characters 10 years on, but I couldn’t bring myself to watch it as I prefer to remember everyone partying and having fun back in the 90s. Ant gave me the DVD set for my[read more…]

Five simple and healthy lunch ideas

Five simple and healthy lunch ideas

Living in a big city where food is so easily accessible, lunch is one of those meals which is often neglected; it seems more convenient to grab fast food sometimes, especially on stressful days.  It’s just as easy though, and well worth it to whip up a delicious and healthy meal at home in a matter of[read more…]

a picnic

a picnic

We had a picnic at our local park recently.  A simple lunch; bread, cheese, radishes, sweets, oranges, nuts and fizzy drinks.  No mobiles, TV or computers that day, just sunshine and birds chirping.  And there were hardly any flies!  If you know anything at all about the great Australian summer you’d realise what a treat that[read more…]

Some music for today: Kelli Scarr’s Anything

Some music for today: Kelli Scarr’s Anything

I spotted this artist via eatpress, who thoughtfully offer music with their lovely recipes. Kelli’s sweet, sunny, yet slightly melancholy voice makes me think of Sundays and university and trips to the beach.  Have a listen to her here:

a walk and some Pimm’s

a walk and some Pimm’s

If you haven’t tried this refreshing, very English drink, you really should. One cool but bright Sunday afternoon we went for a walk in the Spring sunshine, enjoying the heat on our skin … Then we had Pimm’s and Limonata, picking strawberries out of the glass afterwards.  Just perfect.

A recipe for Thai green chicken curry and a look back at the 90s

A recipe for Thai green chicken curry and a look back at the 90s

Oh yeah the 90s. The time I went to uni, backpacked overseas to the US, London and Europe, shared old Queenslanders with countless housemates, partied like it was 1999 and was part of the 18-25 demographic. In the 90s People were eating: Thai food was the food to eat out in Australia.  In honour of the[read more…]

Some music for today – Australian band Pond

Some music for today – Australian band Pond

Was having a wander over at Stereogum and found this song by psychadelic band Pond, Sunlight Cardigan.  It’s very 70s and kind of upbeat in a mellow way (think David Bowie or Elton John around that time).  I liked it a lot. Have a listen Album cover from: Stereogum

Remember having a treehouse when you were young?

Remember having a treehouse when you were young?

I never had one.  But, my friends who lived across the road when I was a kid had a treehouse down in their back paddock which we used to sleep overnight in sometimes on weekends (parents never seemed to worry about their children back then, it made for a fun childhood I think). It was a[read more…]

Trip to Melbourne

Trip to Melbourne

The historical, leafy, pretty, multicultural, foodie, fun essence of Melbourne; I had so much fun.  If you want to see more, check out my Flickr.

Being Human

Being Human

I love this show!  The British version that is.  Who would have thought to put a vampire, a ghost and a werewolf in share accommodation? (and I thought I had it bad on res when I was at uni!). Gif from tumblr