party weekend

I had a really big weekend. It was fantastic but I am so exhausted!

Friday night I went to the Adelaide Fringe Festival opening parade which was fun. A group of us sat outside the Stag pub and drunk copious amounts of bubbly, laughed and people watched. It is a fabulous time of the year to be in Adelaide - there is so much happening and the weather is fantastic. I also had a complete (and pretty hot) stranger come up to me (he was Swiss I think) asking me if I'd like to join him for coffee.... glad to see I still have it @ 30!

Saturday I had a shopping day as well as a sewing lesson. I bought a stunning leather purse from Mimco (probably my favourite brand for leather handbags and wallets) Picture below.

Sunday I headed to a food and wine festival - again I drunk copious amounts of alcohol, ate delicious thai food and laughed with loads of friends. Am really feeling it today though!!!

pics below - us @ food and wine - and my new wallet...

possibly the worst outfit/style ever

Seeing this nearly made my coffee come straight back up. She can't honestly think this is attractive??? Having said that, it is the Adult movie awards.........

green pink thumb

I'm very proud to say I'm growing my own plants and herbs.... mint, coriander, chives, italian parsley, kaffir lime leaves, basil......

I also planted some seedlings about a month ago and on Monday morning - a beautiful pink flower popped up (see below).....

this growing things is fun! My partner said if I can look after plants I can have a puppy.... think I'm ready for that pup! Woo hoo

"Tossed"

Whilst I was in Darwin, my good (and oh so healthy) friend made me this absolutely delicious salad from a book titled 'Tossed' - so I went and bought it and made it for dinner last night. I must share!


Zinging with lime, fresh herbs and chilli, this wonderful salad is a true pick-me-up after a dull morning

I am lucky to grow my own chilli, kaffir lime and coriander - fresh herbs are the bestest!

Chicken Noodle Salad
100g (3.5 oz) bean vermicelli noodles
1 tbs vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
3cm (1 quarter inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
1 green chilli, seeded and finely chopped
250g (9 oz) minced (ground) chicken thighs
2 tbs lemon juice
2 makut (kaffir lime) leaves, shredded
1 tbs fish sauce
1 tbs chilli sauce
2 tbs chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves

Put the noodles in a large heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water and soak for 5 minutes, or until softened. Alternatively, cook the noodles according to packet. Drain noodles, then rinse under cold water and drain again.

Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan under medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger and chilli and stir-fry for about 1 minute, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the chicken and stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice, lime leaves, fish sauce and chilli sauce and stir-fry for a further minute. Remove from the hear and transfer to a large bowl.

Cut the noodles into shorter length with scissors. Add to chicken mixture along with coriander and mix well. Leave to cool completely.

Northern Territory pics

I have just spent a wonderful week in NT. I spent 2 nights in Darwin with a good friend of mine and then 2 nights in Kakadu with my partner, who is working there. Despite the hot and humid weather I absolutely loved it! It has to be one of the most relaxing places I've been. I even read a 400 page novel (I don't usually read novels) while lying in the hammock with lots of beer and champagne....

Pics below are from 1. Litchfield National Park (where we swum in the rock pools), 2. Good friend MP relaxing at Litchfield, 3. Crocodile, Kakadu, 4. The Wharf in Darwin (amazing asian food and fish and chips), 5. Amazing who comes to lunch in Darwin!

I'm officially unemployed

Yep. That's right. I had a pickle of week last week and got myself into a big pickle! I was relaxing in Darwin, drinking Sol beer whilst lying in the Hammock, when my phone rung. I let it go to voicemail.

Rewind 4 weeks earlier, I went for a generalist HR position, let's call it Company A, and I ended up their 2nd choice. I then resigned from my position as I was headhunted by someone else (Company B). i didn't really want to join this company B but had to get out of where I was working. Was meant to start at Company B today today.

About an hour later I checked my voicemail. It was someone ringing from Company A, saying they had another position come up and they wanted me to apply for it. Was very excited.

So I decided not to start today at Company B. They are interviewing next week at Company A. Things could now go great or very pear shaped.... fingers crossed

So I'm heading back up to Darwin on Wednesday until the interview....... yes I'm a bum.... By the way I'll have some pics of my NT trip soon.

I'm not usually a big beer drinker, but this beer is DELICIOUS!!!

Another holiday

I'm off to Darwin on Monday for 5 days. I have to say I'm most excited! Haven't been to Darwin since I was about 7. I'm looking forward to winding down, mellowing with the locals, having some beers at one of the fab waterfront bars and just soaking up the atmosphere. I will be scouring the outdoor markets (actually they might be shut this time of the year!!) and eating so much of the Asian influenced food. Hard to believe that it is much quicker to fly to Bali from Darwin than Adelaide to Darwin!

I'm also spending 2 nights with my partner in the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park (where he is currently working). We might try and take a sunset cruise.

Stunning pics below of the Mindil Markets and sunset.........

fab gift

My lovely lovely partner bought me a Janome Sewing Machine on Sunday. I'm sooooooo excited!!! I haven't sewed for years so my good friend Kate and I are going to get lessons. I decided when I found this divine short sleeved belted shirt (very 50s, Audrey Hepburn style) for $160 that I could learn and make something like this myself. So I decided I wanted a sewing machine. I have a partner who does spoil me rotton. I never asks for gifts but he gives me them. He finds it hard to express his love in other ways but loves to spoil me. I never grew up a spoilt child at all and have been working since I was 15.... but my partner does spoil me!!!! I should not complain!

Anyway I'm looking forward to making myself some origional dresses and shirts and skirts. I really hope it works out!!! What's been your favorite gift of late?? (anyone who happens to stumble across my blog)

My machine

good days and bad days

Today has been a really really really crappy day! I resigned from my job today. I was approached by another company to join them and accepted. Boss is not happy at all and I'll be finishing on Thursday which means I'll have all of next week off. Think I might head to Darwin to vist my lovely boyfriend and some friends.

I really don't like days like this!

On a MUCH happier note - I had the most lovely weekend. My partner was back for the weekend so we spent Saturday house hunting for houses to buy and a leisurely breakfast at the Adelaide Markets. That eveing we took up some delicious Chinese Food to my parents and had a feast.

Yesterday we went to my all time favorite restuarnt and cellar door. The Bridgewater Mill. It was soooooo divine. We sat out on the deck next to the huge water mill - set high in the hills - on a glorious 30 degree day. I ate the following delicious meal:
Entree:
Grilled Kangaroo Island Marron with crustacean mousseline, shellfish essence, truffle cream and salted duck egg

Main:
Rack of Mayland's lamb with herb and almond crusted leg, eggplant caviar and tarragon glaze

Dessert
Coconut rice pudding with mango panna cotta
and palm sugar

Drunk delicious 2003 Croser Sparkling white
2004 Bridgewater Mill Viognier (flat white)
2004 Petaluma Shiraz
and 1999 Petaluma Botrytis Essence Semillon

I was pretty tipsy by the end of it but very satisfied!



Picture of the Mill and picture of the outside restuarant - gorgeous - hey?

oh my shoes and bags shoes and bags!!!!

Reading the Australian Financial Review this morning (the fashion section only) they have these absolutely divine pair of Tupelo Ballerines by Louis Vuitton in red (leather, flats with a gold buckle). I want them!!!!! I want them!!! And I can't find a pic of them anywhere on the net.... from the Spring Summer 06 collection.


Also on the same page is a red Louis Vuitton bag, with a silver buckle, in epi leather. Also from the Spriung Summer 06 collection. Managed to find a pic of that! Stunning, eh?

I need to max the credit on some designer goods soon!