Back from New York!

New York from the Empire State - by Sherri

So I’m back. Finally.

I went on a fabulous trip to New York and I finally feel like I’ve got time to blog again.

I had the most amazing time away. I got to go away with my bestie Sherri and a couple of her friends from Canada. We had an amazing time and one of the other girls I was privledged to hang out with was Rosa. She’s a far more prolific blogger than me so you’ll probably find much more interesting New York stories on her blog flutter flutter if you’re interested at all! Actually check out this post of where we stayed! Yes, it was as small as it looks but it was perfectly appointed and it couldnt have been in a better location!

Not only was it amazing to see my gorgeous friend again, I had an AMAZING time in NY what a fantastic city. Here are a couple of highlights of my favourite things we did, places we went. I start with our trip to Purl because I guess its like going to the Sewing Mecca in New York right? Its walls of colour matched lusciousness and inspiring projects! Seems appropriate to start here:

Purl Soho - Store Front

Purl Soho - Liberty Luciousness

Purl Soho - Yarn Wall

Inspiring Purl Projects

Purl Soho - like coming home

Then of course the other place I went that I have to share is Babycakes, I went just to try their gluten free goodness. Isn’t it the cutest store?

Baby Cakes - Soho

Baby Cakes

Babycakes Vanilla Cupcake

As a bakery they bake more than gluten free, they also bake vegan, egg and dairy and sugar free too. As Sherri said to me ‘what do they make it out of, air?’ Which is a good call. To be totally honest, I wasn’t that huge a fan. I often say if I have to be gluten free, give me everything else. (which is essentially all the fat and sugar I can find!) However, if you have a lot of allergies or food issues I think what they do is AMAZING. While I wasn’t that huge a fan I did LOVE and still dream about their Mounds Bar. Which for us ozzies is is like a Bounty, oh how I’ve missed Bountys. I would kill for a Babycakes mounds bar right now.

New York Rain

The Corner Store (on our corner!)

Obsession - Anthropologie

inside Anthro, clever lighting

The Highline - a masterpiece of design and ingenuity

the highline used to be an disused railway

Ground Zero - inspiring new growth and rebuilding reflection combo

best NY jazz club - Bar 55

NY Jazz, I could have listened all night

cute place we dined at

Subway Riding

Friedmas - BEST GLUTEN FREE DINER - awesome BLT

New Yorkness

Le Labo - Amazing place where they blend your fragrance for you.

Le Labo - truth.

Times Square Sunset

and this is just the half of it! It was a trip of a life time. I had a blast.

Now there is only a week till Christmas but as I kind of count down I’m going to attempt to share all my Christmas crafting with daily count down posts!

as usual all photos are copyright to me! Just ask if you want to use them.

right now I’m loving…

…these beautiful measuring spoons

beautiful measuring spoons from Anthropologie

I really really really want these measuring spoons from Anthropologie. They cost 16AUD which is a bit up there for some spoons but I’d totally pay it. If it wasn’t going to cost me 45AUD to get them here. $60 for some spoons??? Sadly they wont be looking beautiful in my kitchen any time soon.

right now I’m loving…

more flowers beside my bedside.

bright pink and orange what a combo

I have a thing for short stemmed bouquet arrangements. Particularly in these square glass vases.

sweet rose posy

just a reminder….

...don't forget to stop and smell the roses

you’ll be glad you did!

right now I’m loving

the unexpected Camellia blooming in our new backyard (on what appeared to be an almost dead bush)

Unexpected Camellias

isn’t it beautiful? I think I would have even chosen this one myself, if I knew its name!

and…

Our very first coffee on our new kitchen bench

and many more to come!

yes, we went with ‘cast concrete’, and it looks great. I’m looking forward to all the happy memories that will be made around this bench.

right now I’m loving

the way one tulip in my sunbathed bedroom leans towards the light:

Our First Woman Prime Minister

This is post has nothing to do with what I normally blog about. However it is such a significant moment in our history I just had to mention, today, Australia got its first female Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. Now I have a lot of thoughts and even emotions about this turn of events. I am quite convinced that politics is a messy and often morally comprable game. Whilst I’m not going to go into my dislike or like, my opinions for or against Kevin Rudd, I do think no one deserves to be undermined in the way he has been. The way that seems acceptable in politics, and also the way our political system allows. His farewell speech brought me to tears. I felt he went out expressing great strength of character, dignity, pride and a genuine passion for this country. He hasn’t had a good rep lately, but it was clear today, he loves this country and his job. Whether hes done things right or wrong I believe he has done everything with the greatest of intentions.

The other side of this tale is the triumph of a woman. What a day in history. Julia has literally opened the path for young women everywhere. It occurred to me that one day, if my daughters should so wish they too could be Prime Minister. Now of course they could always have had that aspiration, but Julia has literally showed it can be done. I’m not sure politics is going to be the nicest place in the world to exist, but I have respect for those who believe they can make a change, who have a passion for this country and the well being of its people. Now if only all politicians truely felt this way in their core we might have less underhanded dealings and more successes that benefit our nation.

Happy Mother’s Day

Even though we spent the weekend preparing our house for sale I still got flowers and breakfast in the garden! I’m currently watching Sunday night TV curled up on the couch eating chocolate out of pretty paper. It’s the simple things in life …

My Favourite Canadian Mum

My best-friends leave me. They do. Become my best-friend and you’ll up-sticks and leave this city. I try not to take it personally but I do wonder….  I tell myself I’m just attracted to fun, vibrant, adventuresome people. People who are willing to take the scary plunge of moving cities and even countries.

That’s what my best friend Sherri did. She used to live here. We had such a great time. We’ve worked together. We lived in the same neighborhood. We had our first babies together. She was part of my wedding (pregnant and all!). She was my morning coffee buddy. (even after we stopped work we’d meet at the local coffee shop every other day, prams in tow). She shares my love of good food and wine. She also shares my love of craft, art and good design. She is one chic girl. Her style is inspirational. In fact I don’t think she even realises how clever she is, or how much she inspires me. Clearly her new home city of Vancouver has realised. She’s been nominated as one of the top Mum (or as they say ‘mom’) blogs in Vancouver.

I can see why. She’s so good at spotting that special piece. Whether it be home wares or clothes or a general good idea. She can pull it all together in a classic yet individual way. Her blog is her exploration of all these things:

Inspirational home design

Sarah's House - a great designer

Fun, original fashion

Toms Shoes - Fashionable and Functional

Plus some of her own clever decorating

So Much To Love - Stylin' Nursery

So this post is to ask you to not only check out her fabulous blog, So Much To Love. But to VOTE for her. Go HERE, scroll down and click on Sherri Birt – So Much to Love. The voting ends Friday and you can only vote once a day, she is really close to winning but she’s vying with another great blogger for the title. She is really my favourite Vancouver Mum. Lets help her win!

where to start

So here I am, hoping that my straight-up attitude sets me apart from other mummy bloggers. I guess this will be a slow burn as it takes time for people to get to know and regularly visit any blog worth its salt.

Seeing I’m so keen on visuals this is really just a post to see how it all works out. I think I have a lot to learn but in the mean time I’m going to publish this and go eat a piece of hedgehog slice!