Birthday Week!

 So yesterday I turned the big Three Oh. I've been dreading this time for probably the last 5 years, convinced one's life is completely over once they reach the ripe old age of 30. Im going to prove myself wrong.

As the clocked ticked over from 11:59pm on the 7th of March, my life did not end. I was still breathing. Still in my beautiful home that I bought with my amazing best friend and partner. Still the mummy of 2 crazy cats that think they are human and make our lives infinitely more enjoyable. Still working in a job I (mostly) love. Still living. Thats the point. Things only end and stop being fun if you let them. Wow, Im so wise now.

We kicked off birthday week (yes, Im 30! I get a whole week) at Mecca Bah on Saturday night with my family. Great food, great company and even better cocktails ;)

Last night M and I, along with H and her husband M (his birthday was on the 2nd of March so we had a combined do) went to Aria for dinner. Ooh la la. The food was deifnitely worth the hype (and the price), unless you're vegan. And we are. Woops. I kid (kind of). The food was delicious and the service impeccable but I dont think a piece of celery, half a leek, two TINY pieces of eggplant and some cherry tomatoes is worth $42 (the same price as a 300gm steak). If you're a meat eater or even just a vegetarian then there is much more on offer and definitely worth a visit.

Pretty China

Im not sure how I feel about printed crockery. I have some fun polka dot and striped plates at home that I love but I really prefer eating off a nice clean white plate. That doesn't stop me loving these gorgeous china pieces from Cath Kidson.

I think a mix of these would look just fab in my kitchen.

Spray Flowers Set of 4 Dinner Plates 

Set of 4 Dotty Dinner Plates

 

Set of 4 Provence Rose Placement Dessert Plates

 

Provence Rose Set of 4 Cereal Bowls

Blackbird

I want to crawl into this song and sleep forever.

Oscar, Oscar, Oscar!

So it's Award Season once again (seriously, can you believe it is MARCH already?!) and going hand in hand with those little bronze statues are the inevitable Best and Worst Dressed lists. So here is mine.

LOVED

 

Hilary Swank in Gucci. One of my favourites. The ombre feathers are gorgeous and delicate. Just enough drama for the Awards.

Camila Alves in Kaufman Franco. Perfection.

Mila Kunis in Elie Saab

Busy Philipps

Cate Blanchett. Still channeling those pesky Elves from LOTR in Givenchy Haute Couture.

Sandra Bullock chose her Vera Wang outfit because son Louis '"loves red, so I put on red."

Hailee Steinfeld looked adorable in a custom Marchesa gown. She is 14!

SPECIAL MENTION

I know this technically isn't an Oscar gown because this was taken at the Vanity Fair afterparty but Ginnifer Goodwin (in Erdem) was definitely my fav on the night.


NOT SO MUCH LOVING

Gwyneth Paltrow decided to come AS an oscar.

Nicole Kidman. I don't even know what is going on here but it's horrendous and hurts to look at.

Mandy Moore. I can't tell where her flesh ends and the dress begins...

Halle Berry got stuck in the toilet paper after a bathroom break.

Scarlett Johansson. It's like she wasnt even trying. And brush your hair.

 

Michelle Williams. I love her SO  much and this dress wasn't awful but it was just so drab. She still looks insanely gorgeous but I miss old, happy, bright Michelle Willaims...

Michelle at the 2006 Oscars in Vera Wang.

I Love You, Brisbane

What an incredible week.

I don't even know where to begin. This time last week all of Brisbane was waiting for the world as we know it to end. And it did.

I'm sure you've heard all the details. Seen the devastation in Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, Ipswich, Brisbane... Ive watched hours and hours of news broadcasts in the last week and listened to just as much radio coverage describing the destruction but nothing can prepare you for driving the streets and seeing people's lives on the footpath. Looking into the open front doors of house after house, street after street and seeing homes completely gutted, only their frames remaining.

What I also didn't expect was the abundance of incredible kindness shown by thousands of volunteers around my beautiful city, out there in the middle of summer in the essential long pants and shirts, gumboots and gloves, helping anyone they can. It is truly overwhelming.

I contributed on Saturday by supplying volunteers with plenty of homemade goods and drinks but got the chance to physically help out on Sunday. We were on the other side of the goodwill that day and the drinks and sausages (well not for the vegos) were so gratefully received. You dont have to do much. You just have to do SOMETHING and thankfully, a lot of people are <3

Incase youve been asleep for a week... A GALLERY OF THE CLEAN UP

Image from tripadvisor.com

Who needs butter to bake?

I used to do a bit of baking before becoming vegan but I seriously have never tasted any cakes more delicious than those I've made (or just eaten) using no eggs, butter or milk. Vegan baking is amazing!

If in doubt, please PLEASE try making this one at home.

My fab friend A came over for pre Christmas drinks with a case full of alcohol that she kindly left behind. For some reason she thought I like a nip of Kahlua in my daily coffee so a bottle of the good stuff was amongst the booze. Seriously, Im not at that stage yet but I certainly didn't say no to free alcohol.

Once I found out Kahlua was vegan, I jumped online to find some delicious recipes. And this is what we got. 

The recipe:
Chocolate-Kahlua Birthday Cake…

Oh. Em. Gee. This cake is freaking amazing. So incredibly moist, not too dense and just the right amount of chocolate, coffee and liqueur.


I think I need another piece...

Happy New Year?

I hope so.

2010 was probably the saddest year of my life. My grandfather passed away in May, just one month before the 1 year anniversary of my grandmother's death. Nana dying was by far the worst thing to ever happen to me. We we very close, even closer than my mother and I so it hit me really hard. I was still grieving for her when my Pop passed and the sadness and guilt of his death was magnified. Not guilt because I felt responsible but guilt because I didn't see him enough. I had meant to visit him for a couple of weeks before he died and only went to call him the day before he passed but forgot and I was so incredibly angry at myself for letting that opportunity pass. I hope he knows that I loved him, even if I found it hard to show him xo

2010 was also the year I 'lost' my best friend.  We had been friends since grade 8 in high school but past experiences taught me that she wasn't a person that could be relied on or even trusted and I guess I finally had enough. I have made some lovely friends in the last 12 months and even though we aren't really close, I found that I could rely on them more than my 'best' friend of 15+ years. It was incredibly sad to admit and she now knows how I feel so if the friendship is ever to be mended, the ball is in her court. I do miss her terribly but life is far too short to waste time on people that treat you like shit!

So moving on! That's the goal. I do have some resolutions and will hopefully be able to stick to them!

1. Save $$, don't spend it!
HA! I felt physically ill when I realised how much disposable cash we blew last year :S M and I could've easily taken 2 lengthy overseas holidays but what did we go? Nowhere! We have a few big things planned for the future so its time to curb the spending and start seriously saving!

2. Eat better - cook more!
February 2011 will mark 12 months of veganism for M and I. When we first started out, everything was new and exciting and I enjoyed trying out new recipes and foods. Fast forward 10 months, add a hectic work and social schedule and most of our meals consist of grilled vegetables on toast or potatoes! Seriously boring and not too nutritious. So this year, I vow to get back to being creative (or at least active) in the kitchen :)

3. Get more sleep
Most nights I work freelance after hours and it takes a little time to unwind before bed so we rarely go to sleep before midnight on a school night. This leads to 7:45am wake ups when we need to leave for work at 8! I'm sick of the rushing around in the mornings and would like a little more time at home so bed at 10:30 each night is the goal...

4. Read more
This seems to be a popular resolution for a few friends. I miss reading and getting lost in different worlds but rarely get the time. I'm going to try and spend less time online and more time with my nose a book. I closed my Facebook down just after Christmas so hopefully that will help. I do still have my Twitter though...