Friday's Fancies: Party Planning

Party planning is in full force this week. My baby girl officially turned One last week but we decided to postpone her party till this weekend. I've been busy making all the decorations while my sister is baking up a storm and my mother, preparing dishes upon dishes of delicious food. Meanwhile my dad is busy organizing his wine cellar and cleaning up after us. It's all hands on deck in this household. Suffice to say the guests will all be going home bloated and hopefully slightly disgusted of themselves (sign of a good party, right?). I only wish my husband was around for his little girl's first birthday. I guess it's only fair since he had to miss out on her sister's first birthday last year too. Poor hubby, it must be so hard to always miss out on key events. These are the times when Skype just doesn't cut it. But enough about that, here's a sneak peeks of what's in store for her party. More photos to come.

A sneak peek at the dessert table. Note the countless hours spent catching up on my favourite shows while completing that gold fish scale wall. Although tedious, I love the overall effect.

 

A sweet little birthday wreath for my sweet little girl. There was really no design process behind this wreath, it was merely me using up whatever materials I had on hand. Surprisingly it all came together really nicely. Don't you love it when that happens? 

 

Happy first birthday to this little one. 

Stringing up garland with her name and making gold glittered accent letters.

  

150 macaron shells, 10 minutes in the oven, two eager ladies (being my sister + me)... and now only 50 left for the party. Big fat Oops with a capital O. 

Wardrobe Diaries: Borrowed from the boys

I am definitely feeling the love lately. First a feature on my favourite read, Chocolate Cookies & Candies then a guest appearance on Trust your Style and now the ever lovely Kristen from C'est si bon. has asked me to guest blog for her. This lovely lady needs no introduction, even fashion's "it girl" Miss Olivia Palmero was caught visiting her blog recently. So come stop by sometime and hear me ramble on about the art of getting dressed. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for the continued support. Your comments and visits mean the world to me and are what makes blogging so rewarding.

{ asos polka-dot trouser . maison scotch oxford shirt also loving this sequin version . anthropologie peplum cardigan similar here and here . zara shopper tote . nine west heels . asos belt . lip colour violet crush by estee lauder }

Wardrobe Diaries: Fall in Love

Spring has finally sprung here in Melbourne, Australia and it smells good. While I'm enjoying the longer sun filled days I can't deny a little fashion envy of my north hemisphered counterparts. So here I am trying to get in on all the fun fall action, or shall I say faux fall action. Today, I am extremely flattered to be featured on Mary Jo Matsumoto's style blog, Trust Your Style. Come swing by to see myself, along with a few other style makers discussing our favourite fall obsession. And while you're there, stop by Mary Jo's store to check out her collection of impeccably designed handbags. Here are a few of my favourites from her fall/winter collection. Mary Jo is known for extracting the essence of runway trends and presenting them in a classic, timeless manner that just oozes je ne sai quoi.

From top left to bottom right: Laguna Libertine Shopper, Thalia Street Clutch, Wilde Foldover Clutch, Wilde Mini-Wallet

Friday's Fancies

Happy friday everyone! First off, who else is excited about the return of Downton Abbey? I can't wait till it airs on TV here, in the meantime I'll just cover my ears and avert my eyes whenever there's any mention of it.

This week has been filled with nonstop party planning in preparation for my littlest one's first birthday. She officially turns the big One next week. I know it sounds cliche, it seems just like yesterday when I was still waddling around with her baking away. I'm quite certain I broke some kind of world record for mother's height to baby's birth weight ratio but that's a story for another day, maybe. I have so much fun stuff planned for her birthday bash and I can't wait to share it with you soon. For now, a few snaps from life this week. xx

This use to happen to me when I was little so I held my breath as I watched my two year old lick away. The look of surprise and anguish on her face was too much to bear.  

I love seeing my girls get along. These days they are obsessed with this doll's pram. They both take turns sitting in it. That's right, even my 25lb toddler finds a way to squeeze herself in.

These fuchsia pumps have been glued to my feet ever since I picked them up. I'm certain they match with EVERYTHING in my wardrobe. Just a warning, you may be seeing a lot of these in the near future.   

It's been a while since I've seen so many people on the street and it feels good. For now I'm simply enjoying watching the world pass me by as I sit and sip my coffee. 

Thank you to the traffic department for these clever little reminders. They've saved me from driving on the wrong side of the road more times than I'd care to mention. 

Don't forget only two days left to enter my Love Bangle giveaway. Winner announced on Monday September 24th. More details here.

Strawberry Love Heart Friand

It may have been more than a month since my last recipe post, but this one is quite worth the wait. Introducing the Friand, a dainty little cake that's as synonymous with Australian cafe culture as the latte and yo-yo (see previous post). In fact, they're so common here that the swanky hipster cafes don't even stock them. For those who are unfamiliar, what makes these little cakes unique is their large almond-meal to flour ratio.

Friands originated from french cuisine and are also known as financier. These tiny cakes are light, moist and beautiful in their simplicity. I also like to think that they are moderately healthy given their composition of almond-meal and egg whites (although the addition of butter and sugar will inevitably cancel out that last statement). They are typically found in a assortment of berry and citrus flavours or sometimes simply plain.

I've had this idea of cutting love hearts out of strawberries ever since I was forced to get creative with feeding my toddler (oh, the joys of motherhood). Since friands also happen to be my mum's favourite treat, I thought, what better way to show love and appreciation than to embed little love hearts in them for her.

 

 

 

 

Strawberry Love Heart Friand

Ingredients

150g icing sugar

190g butter

60g plain flour

120g almond meal

5 egg whites

6 strawberries

Zest of one lemon

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease pan and lightly dust with flour. 

2. Separate egg yolks and whites. Lightly froth egg whites 

3. Heat butter on stove top over medium heat, let it bubble away till golden brown. Remove and keep warm. 

4. While butter is bubbling away, zest one lemon and add to egg white.

5. Sift icing sugar and flour into a bowl then add in almond meal.

6. Make a well, gradually stir in the egg whites and heated butter. Combine till smooth.

7. Fill each friand till two thirds full. Insert strawberry halves or fruit of choice. Another alternative is to puree fruit and mix into batter. 

8. Bake for 15 minutes until golden. Insert skewer to check if it comes out clean. 

9. Cool on a wire rack, dust with icing before serving.

*Recipe yields 12

*Any bar or loaf type pans can be used. Traditionally friands were known as little gold bars, but nowadays they come in all shapes and sizes. Best to stay away from any mould larger than a cupcake.

*Passionfruit, blueberry and nuts are all popular additions. 

Don't forget my Madamoiselle Felee giveaway is still going on. It's open to international readers and ends Monday 24th September. Click here for more details. 

Wardrobe Diaries: A Mustard Penguin Tail

I've been really behind on blogging lately. These photos were taken almost three weeks ago and I'm only now getting around to posting them. I picked up this BB Dakota blazer from Piperlime back in July. I fell in love the moment I saw it and couldn't wait till the weather was cool enough to bring it out. The rich mustard colour, paired with the heavy fabric and cropped sleeves make it the perfect transitional jacket. And if you haven't noticed yet, it also has the cutest little penguin tuxedo tail detail. I love a classic yellow and blue outfit. The rich mustard on this blazer perfectly complements darker shades of blue. Next up, I can't wait to pair it with this Fall's 'it' colour- oxblood.

{ bb dakota blazer . j.crew stripe blouse similar here and here . hudson denim shorts . sam edelman pumps . mulberry travel day bag . michael kors bracelet . david yurman sunnies}

PSSST

Don't forget to enter my Madamoiselle Felee Love bracelet giveaway courtesy of Boticca. Click here for more details. Giveaway ends Monday, September 24th.

Friday's Fancies and a Giveaway

Happy friday everyone! I'm really excited about today's post. The wonderful team at Boticca has kindly allowed me to select an item from their site as a giveaway for you! There were so many pieces that I loved but in the end settled on some arm candy (who doesn't love arm candy right?).

I wanted a piece that felt timeless yet modern and at the same time dainty enough to wear everyday. I think this Madamoiselle Felee Love bangle ticks all those boxes. The inspiration behind this piece is taken from the iconic 'I Heart New York" t-shirt. I love the feminine ribbon enclosure paired with the delicate lettering. Based in Paris, Aurore Francois is the designer behind Madamoiselle Felee. She describes her vision as "My universe is the search of beauty in simplicity...". I cannot wait to send this beauty to one of you. More details below.

For details on entering this gorgeous bracelet please scroll to bottom of the page. Winner will be announced next Monday and is open to international readers. And now, back to my regular Friday's Fancies post. Here are some moments this past week that made me smile.

I was pleasantly surprised one morning when I opened up a carton of eggs to find a dozen happy faces smiling back at me. They were almost too cute to crack open. 

The Little Miss has developed a newfound obsession with Hello Kitty. I may or may not be encouraging her with a plethora of merchandise. What can I say, the kid in me just loves all this kawaii-ness.  

The quintessential Aussie meal- grilled lamb chops or meat pops as I like to call them. Super easy to prepare, easy to eat and finger lickin' good, it's a win-win-win.

Although there's still a slight chill in the air, spring has officially arrived in Australia. I'm looking forward to sipping coffee in the open air, visiting farmers markets, the smell of new blooms and of course the Spring Racing Carnival (Melbourne Cup day) in November. 

The kids and I enjoying a rare bout of sunshine this past week. We spent it by the river eating ice-cream while watching street performers. 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS 

Enter to win the gorgeous Urban Love bangle by Madamoiselle Felee sponsored by Boticca. Winner will be emailed and also announced on Facebook on Monday September 24th. This contest is open to international entries. 

To make things easy, there are only two mandatory requirements: 

1. Follow Boticca on Facebook.

2. Leave your email address in a comment below so you may be contacted. 

Easy peasy. Good luck to you! 

* For additional entries feel free to follow my blog on Facebook, GFC, Bloglovin' and Twitter. Let me know which methods you chose. 

Wardrobe Diaries: Spring Meets Fall

I am still coming to terms with the fact that I miss out on Fall this year. If you've been following my blog then you may remember me mentioning summer fashion fatigue from as earlier as June. They don't call Fall, fashion's favourite season for nothing. All those layers and outerwear, knits, furs and leathers are enough to make any girl swoon. 

Sadly for me, I left the Northern Hemisphere a few days before the end of summer and arrived here in the Southern Hemisphere just as spring picked up. Instead of abandoning all my newly acquired cold weather wear, I decided to bring them along with me to style into my spring wardrobe. The classic spring colour combo of mint and blush contrast perfectly with edgier leather pieces from Fall. Add to that some red lipstick and a velvet bow and there you have my perfect spring meets fall outfit. 

A big thank you to Boticca for sending me this beautiful leather clutch. When it comes to fashion and design, there's nothing I love more than discovering new talented up and coming designers. Through their online shop, Boticca gives me the chance to scour the world for beautiful unique pieces with the knowledge that each purchases will help aid an independant designer to be one step closer to their dream. Now for the fun part, make sure you pop by on friday for a chance to win a beautiful bracelet by french designer Mademoiselle Felee courtesy of Boticca. 

{ zara cardigan sold out, other great mint pieces here and here . gap shirt . zara skirt sold out, other great option here or splurge here . clutch thanks to boticca . nine west shoes . michael kors cuff bracelet . kookai spike and wrap bracelet . asos bow-tie }