Sunday, July 31, 2011

Sunday Sweetness


I can't seem to sacrifice Sundays anymore - I want to eat this day, savour its unique taste, and be as "now" as possible. A little bit of these things are never far away..

To be rested, rejuvenated and perfectly happy:
1. Roast dinner Friday, Greek food Saturday, Eggy brunch Sunday
2. Leg cuddles
3. Very apple pie
4. Walks at night
5. Laughter with dear friends
6. Fruit and yoghurt
7. The Decemberists
8. A new couch and nothing to do but lay on it
9. Plenty of inspiration
10. Time to dream

Have a soulful Sunday.
Always
xx

...

Image aquí!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Recuperation Wednesday


For whatever your sweet little self desires - comfort, inspiration, colour, cosiness, twirling, crooning, giggles, indulging or an excuse to stay in your happy home..

Watch..

The gorgeous Feist and her amazing community of artists journey through the dreamy and lush experience that was the creation of The Reminder (2007). The process of multiple collaborations sees us through concept, recording and touring. Seriously, so amazing.

The new album Metals is due out in October!! More here.

Nom..

The best Dahl in all the world. We make ours from this book, but there are more here. Try adding cauliflower, broccoli, peas and chickpeas + greek yoghurt + lime pickle + cucumber and baby spinach. So good in hot and cold weather..don't try and stop me. And coriander!

Sip..

Masala Chai is always the most delicious. Or so I have found through my demanding tastebuds. This one over at Everybody Likes Sandwiches is perfect and can be tweaked for your enjoyment, trust me. That is not to say that this recipe is not delicious, I just like ginger. And cinnamon. And the occasional vanilla bean.

Ooh and pound those cardamom pods good! We have also dry roasted the spices before simmering.. 

Extra dark chocolate to nibble is ultra optional, I'm not saying the blocks I buy for baking actually make it into brownies.

And while we're on the topic of her lovely site, they're not really sippable*, but I should mention these muffins too. Love the 'Sandwiches site!


Have a restful, snuggly night,
wherever you may be
xx

...

* Pouring cake batter into one's mouth
doubles as quality control.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Life, ohhh life


Easy and simple, no-wrong-steps recipe for 
A Lush Sunday

...
* sleep late/nap often
* find some bagels and spread with delicious things
e.g. avocado and vegemite
* watch consecutive episodes of guilty pleasure/toxic awesome tv
* do some loads of washing; don't hang them out
* walk in the mid-afternoon sunshine
* buy some treats for your tummy
* gather some sweet friends..
* ..light candles, make pots of tea, hoover nutella and strawberries..
* ..work in some berry froghurt, fig ginger honey ice-cream and spekulaas..
* ..turn up the heater, make antipasti, invite more friends and lovers..
* ..frangelico, coconut and pineapple cocktails..
* ..laugh, listen, dance in your chair..
*..rose tea and caramel chocolate..
* ..write quietly as your dearest snores
...  

oh yes.

vegemite is purely optional..
 
I hope your Sunday treats you very right
xx

...

Title from Tracy Chapman (that one's an in-joke)
Paris image source unknown - help?

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

22.


Just over a year ago S and I were here. 
It was such a swift, precious time.
In a bit over two months 
we will have been in one another's hearts 
for three years.
I did not know at 19 that I would meet a man who would
help, guide and nourish me so.
I honestly had the vaguest idea of what love was.
Even now, 33 months and a fortnight on,
I continue to learn from him every day.
Now that we live together and have purchased
Ikea furniture and an almost-cat*,
I am still astounded, yet a little scared, and overall
overcome by how blessed I am to have met him,
and allowed myself to fall in love with him.
 In no way was it hard to fall in love with him.
The thing with love 
- in my singular and limited experience -
is that it is truly free fall.
That late Spring, early Summer of '08 
I was constantly asking myself if it was happening.
In truth it happened a number of times in that period.
It has happened a million times since.
I love that he fulfills me to the point that
I now trust in the magic, infinite nature of growth.
Every day, even the nasty meh days, involve a sweetness
I now can't remember being without but cherish,
completely besotted.
I love striving to be better in every way, in small ways and big.
Making coffee, other foods and looking after myself spiritually.
Being more of a lover than a fighter now.
Stopping to appreciate little bits and pieces of our neighbourhood.
Ultimately, I know that it is neither my job, nor my obligation 
to make him happy.
But the love we share is such a positive honey pot
that it makes me value the healthful, inspiring and delicious things
this dreamy life has to offer in an alternate way
to what my life was up until I was given this gift.
Love is all, and I already had so much of it in my life before now.
But this sort of love is not tangible like those
and I understand the richness which has been 
bestowed upon me is strong, supportive
and, of increasing importance recently, accepting.

Perhaps what love truly is is acceptance.


*I say "almost-cat" as Phase Two of engineering
a cat is almost complete..
xx

...

Photo of Springbrook National Park via Google Images
- this is an amazing place for
a trip of any length.
The walks through the falls and lookouts 
are especially breathtaking..we didn't get to the Glow-Worm Cavern, 
sad panda!