Yipeeee

Please pardon the title but I am rather excited! I am off for a little break to Sydney for the next week, it's been a long time coming and I am in great need of some relaxation and free time. We have plenty of things planned during our stay such as visiting this art show, going to see this band, catching up with friends and crazily going to this (something I watch every year and certainly didn't think was something I'd ever actually go to). Of course there should be lots of sleeping, shopping and eating involved also.
I look forward to sharing some stories and photo's when I am back.
take care
Catherine xx

In my bag...

Having been curious with other people's bags I felt it was only fair to share my own. It seems there are universal things people carry with them, different in their own way but generally the same things.
So the bag itself is relatively new, a few months old and I love its warm brown leather, it's big, probably too big, but its perfect for right now. I carry an umbrella always, it seems to me that the days I forget it it rains, a diary and note book, coin purse, wallet (which was a present from my mum and I very much love, and the leather is so soft), keys, mobile, sunglasses (prescription, I don't know how I coped without prescription sunglasses they changed my life!), a black bangle was floating around the bottom of the bag, handcream, lipgloss and lipstick and finally ipod. So there it is, the contents of my bag!

Sustainable Living

Hi there,

Wow the weekend just flew by so fast! Today we went to the Sustainable Living expo, which has got me thinking a lot about what we do for the environment and what we should be doing. It was very interesting, with a wide range of displays from solar water, organic food, furniture from recycled timber, and sustainable architecture. It seems to be so important these days to think about these issues and yet sometimes it can seem so difficult and overwhelming to make a difference, but the point of today really was that every little bit does help. So recycling, turing lights off (something I must get better at), walking or riding my bike more often for short trips, all these little things I can do, rd is already so good with all of these things and I admire this so much in him.

So all in all it was a very good weekend for learning new things. I hope you all had a great weekend too!
Catherine xx

A Good Combination

In anticipation of summer and warm evenings (I am optimistic they will arrive soon....) I made this salad to have with my dinner the other night. I tried something very similar last week at a work conference lunch, and was very pleasantly surprised. It's a simple mix of pear, prosciutto, rocket, parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil. The flavours work so well together, a perfect combination, and I know this is going to be a bit of a favourite of mine for the next few months.

Desiring

The timing of things is not so great at the moment. I am loving these light and bright summer clothes and shoes (oh I love these sandals!) and yet it is pouring with rain and 10 degrees! That's really one way to let a girl down.
Oh well perhaps some shopping and storing away for finer days is in order. In the meantime I am still content with quiet nights with the heater and scrabble games. By the way I am terrible at this game, it's got to the point where rd laughs at me, and I have to resort to sneaky tactics, like coughing, singing or talking a lot, to try and break his concentration so he doesn't score so well.

The top, dress and sandals are from here and there's plenty more to choose from.

This Weekend

This weekend I
- relaxed, finally, you know that feeling when you let go of everything and know that all is really ok there is no need for worry or stress any longer, it has taken some time to get to this stage and it is the best!
- painted my toes pretty pink in anticipation of strappy gold summer sandals
- lots of cooking, exploring the new Jamie book, even trying some french toast made from crumpets with chillie for breakfast, wow it's good
- framed my Matte Stephens print, I am so pleased with the results
- visited the markets for fresh veggies and flowers, I love that rhubarb is in season with it's beautiful bold reds, so luscious when it's cooked
- loving this post and house and wishing so much I could do something like it, or even be able to buy treats from here and here
- drinking lots of peppermint tea, I am a newcomer to drinking tea and I love its freshness and feel so grown up

All in all a good weekend.
I wish everyone a lovely week to come.
Catherine xx

Little Exciting Moments

I am so excited, my heart just leaped a mile. Listening to the new radiohead, a little late I know but last night I went out and saw this (which is the most gorgeous beautiful film I have seen in a very long time not to mention the soundtrack...sigh) anyway there's a track called Nude, which when I heard it turned out to be Big Ideas! I have loved this song for so long and it hasn't been released until now. Very exciting, well for me anyway!
Besides my musical excitment, I am feeling quite inspired to make another gocco attempt. There seems to be so many beautiful things around at the moment that I feel I have no choice but to do something to be a part of it all.
Oh and tomorrow's friday, even better.

Pink Peonies

First peonies of the season. So beautiful, the big ruffled petals in soft changing pinks.
Daylight savings started yesterday it is amazing how much of a difference more daylight at the end of the day can make. I am starting to think about summer, warmer nights, walks after dinner, hopefully home grown strawberries, and generally the lighter mood that summer brings with it.
Tonight I am working on some designs, I hope to share them soon.
Catherine
x

Been South

Hi there,
Well I am returned from a wonderful weekend break away with a group of friends, one I realised I really did need. We went to a little town called Southport which is the southern most town in Australia. The scenery down there was stunning, I hadn't been to that area before and was quite taken aback with how beautiful it was. Particularly with the warm sun and thinking about the history of that part of the world, when French explorers camped there for quite some time in the 1790's and studied the flora and meet our native Aborigines. The area is so pristine and untouched, it was possible to imagine these events and feel a part of them.

Rd and I went on a long walk together yesterday for most of the day and enjoyed being out in the air away from everything, watching a little echidna for quite some time snuffling out some ants for his dinner, then returning and having a fantastic dinner of fish freshly caught that day by the others, enjoying a drink around the fire. I feel nicely rested and peaceful now, ready to take on a new week.

Some Catching Up

This is the nice little pile of magazines that has grown over the past week and I am yet to do more than a quick flick through each. Why is it some months all the magazines are really great, filled with so many pictures to pour over. Including Victoria's house from sfgirlbybay in real living, that I can't wait to spend some time checking out and reading what she has to say.

Life has been a bit hectic this week, it's been overwhelming in a sense, but today is thursday and I am hoping the weekend will bring some quiet time. We are off on a little break to the southern most town in Australia for a few nights with some friends, it could involve some walking but then if the weather continues as it is (blowing a gale and raining), hopefully it will involve a bit of time in front of a fire just relaxing.
I hope everyone has a great weekend xx

The iPod Shuffle

This little game is from Sarah who found it via Lacy and I had to join in the fun. A list of the first 10 songs that come on your ipod in shuffle mode, deep breath I am sure something very daggy will turn up..

1. God is a DJ- Faithless
ooh I love this song, it's great when your on the treadmill, I swear I walk about three times faster when it comes on. I used to have a live version of it on tape (yep that long ago) that was really great. That's the sad thing about ipod's it's not so easy to tape things off the radio anymore.

2. A Perfect Day Elise - PJ Harvey
This is an older song for her, I really love her voice, she is so strong and confident.

3. My Favourite Game - The Cardigans
I never actually owned a whole album of their's but I really love this song. It rocks along pretty well.

4. Red Blooded Woman - Kylie Homecoming Live version
Ok here it is that something that lowers my street cred (like I had some?), I am a kylie fan. Yes from way back when I was about 8, so she has always been around one way or another, I had to have this live album 'cause I went to the concert last year. I originally had tickets for the concert that was supposed to be on her birthday in Melbourne which would have been HUGE. But ended up being at the end of last year, it was a lot of fun I loved it.

5. Know - Nick Drake
I love his voice, this is off the Pink Moon album and it's pretty mellow.

6. There There - Radiohead
Wow my ipod is actually coming up with a pretty random selection. This song was the first song they played when I saw them live a few years ago and the drums at the start put shivers down my spine, it was thrilling. I am a total Radiohead obsessive.

7. You Can't Go Home Again - DJ Shadow
The best DJ in the world, oh along with Cut Chemist. My brother lived in Melbourne a few years ago and we both discovered Shadow at the same time, we'd ring each other up and say did you listen to this bit, and what about that bit....

8. Papa Don't Preach - Kelly Osbourne
Love this song, and love this version. I lwas a fan of the Osbournes tv show, and I think she is great, a little bit bad girl, but she can sing ok

9. Recapturing the Vibe - Hilltop Hoods
Some good old Aussie hip hop, love it. It just makes me think of watching them on New Years Eve, and getting hit in the eye by a glow stick that some hippy threw. Ok so i don't have a problem with hippy's at all, but a hippy throwing a glow stick is just not cool man.

10. Amidinin - Tinariwen
Ok this one is a little random, but I really love them they are Touareg from Mali and this is just an amazing mix of modern guitar and their own traditional music. I first came across them from watching the Festival in the Desert dvd which is amazing in itself.



Here is the link for the Festival in the Desert.