[bday beach getaway]

Happy hump day! I had a very lovely birthday weekend away and was very happy that the sun came out to play. My day of course started with the muesli I had baked the thursday before and it didn't disappoint! - I even went the big splurge and bought myself a banana... look out!

I'm having sea-air withdrawals already! Jx

[birthday breakfast muesli]

In preparation for my birthday, I've made my favourite muesli of all time.  I guarantee I'll be dreaming of breakfast the night before - it's that delicious!

 Healthy Homemade Toasted Muesli

[makes approx. 2.5kg of breakfast deliciousness]

Ingredients:

5 cups rolled oats

200g sunflower seeds

300g pepitas

200g slivered almonds

200g macadamia nuts, roughly chopped

1 cup shredded or desiccated coconut

1 cup wheat germ

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup sultanas

1 cup dried apricots, finely chopped

1 heaped tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 heaped tsp allspice

1/2 heaped tsp ground nutmeg

1 cup honey

100ml canola oil

Method:

Preheat oven 160 degrees

Line three baking trays with baking paper

Heat honey and oil together in small saucepan over low heat (or in microwave on low) until warm and runny (don't boil)

Remove from heat and add spices and stir to combine

Combine oats, sunflower seeds, pepitas, almonds, macadamias, coconut and wheat germ in a (very) large bowl

Pour over the honey mixture and mix thoroughly

Spread the mixture between the trays and bake for 10mins

Remove from oven, stir, then return for another 10mins

Repeat until mixture is lightly golden brown (this may take up to 40mins)

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely

Toss through dried fruit

Serve with yoghurt and milk with fresh berries or banana

Happy friday! Jx

[delivery!]

Nothing like the awaited arrival of a package!
Not the most exciting of items but I'm excited nonetheless.  POP by Sheridan striped pillow cases in navy and white for the guest bedroom.

Next on the list.... a bed!
Jumping the gun much?! Jx

[a hazy old monday]

Doesn't it feel like summer! This haziness in the air makes anything (even the neighbour's clothesline) look warm and fuzzy.

Had a wonderful weekend! A catch-up dinner with Al, a wedding and an impromptu visit to the beach with Daniel San!
Hope you all had a relaxing weekend!
Jx

[a spot of thursday night recon]

Bright and bold is everywhere at the mo, particularly, as I discovered last night, at ye old Country Road. I tried on the green maxi outfit on from head to toe and I'm pretty sure it needs to be mine! 

Have a fabulous Friday! 28 degrees today in sunny Brizzy.  I'm sure the boss would completely understand if I didn't show up and read on a beach somewhere instead! Jx

[pink ribbon brekky]

It's creeping up! October is Breast Cancer Month and there's no better way to raise money for such a wonderful cause than to get together with you're closest girls for a pink ribbon brekky!  I'll be a busy bee over the next few weeks organising my little gathering!

I thought I'd share some shots of mine from the event I hosted in 2009.  The website has a myriad of ideas to raise money at your event.  After much deliberation I decided to encourage my friends to put their crafty-caps on and create an art piece to auction off to each other.

Firstly there was the business of champagne with guava nectar, ham and leek mini quiches, blueberry yoghurt muffins and of course the pink cupcakes.

This was my little piece that my lovely friend Al bought...

...and I won the bid for Al's creation of words to inspire (creatively directed by her now fiancé Chris of course).

 Adie-pants' piece was perfectly suited to the cause:  Dayna's lucky buy for the day.

...and me and my gorgeous sister.

Looking forward to the next one!  Make sure to stop off at the Pink Ribbon Breakfast website for more information on hosting your own.  Wonderful way to start the day for even more wonderful cause! Jx

[happy windy weekend]

Happy weekend everyone! Where did spring go and what is with this wind!  Just about to start getting myself ready for the evenings festivities - another hens party.  Not really sure what to wear but I'm thinking pants...

Either that or my very best knickers.

Jx

image via watson-studios

[the newest blog to the faves list]

I was very excited to stumble upon this very sweet little blog Notions.  It's chock full of lovely handmade bits and pieces by Rosie from Hobart as well as deliciously inspiring spaces, fabrics and etsy finds, all for the love of vintage.

Jx

[prepping for a spring beach visit]

My birthday is fast approaching (yay) and we've decided to escape to the beach for the weekend.  I'm pretty damn excited!  I'm definitely not one of those people that will go through a whole workday without anyone knowing it's their birthday until someone casually asks what they're doing that night.  I'd rather wear a birthday badge the size of my face!

I haven't purchased new togs in a long time so the hunt begins.  There are extremely cute cozzies out there this year...

Zimmerman - love the detail on the top!

Both above via Jets - very sweet patterns!

And the winner is by Zafiro - how cute is the picnic print trim!

Now all I have to do substitute my food intake with air for a few weeks and I'm set.

Happy hump day everyone! I can smell Sunday brekky already ;) Jx

[little toy plane watercolour]

A work colleague of my mum's just had a little boy on the weekend so mum asked if I could paint something for his nursery.  His Dad's a pilot so a little toy plane was the obvious choice!

Welcome to the world little man!

Hope you're all having a lovely week.
Oh and by the way, my choccy muffins were a big hit at the new job - I'm in!
Jx

suck-up muffins

Nothing says 'please like the new girl' like a homemade batch of double-choc muffins.

Hope they work!

Happy Monday everyone and have a fabulous week!
Jx

[to my dad...]

Happy Father's Day Tones!

Thanks for being a great friend.

(yes that was me during my apricot cummerbund days) 

This is the most recent photo I had of Dad and I.  Bit of worry really.

(My first time hosting the family Chrissy lunch.  Dad's carving the turkey)

I bought him some coffee beans from a brilliant little cafe Dandelion & Driftwood on Brizzy's northside. The coffee is to die for and how cute is there packaging?! They measure up whichever type of freshly roasted beans you fancy upon request and then sew the bag closed - love! Hope he does too!

To all the dads and grandads out there, I hope you're all having a fantastic day! Jx

[flying wall ducks]

I've been thinking, much to Dan's dismay, that some flying wall ducks would look really cute on our freshly painted walls.

 via this very sweet vintage blog

 via this lovely shop on etsy

 via ebay, and sadly sold

 via ebay and happily available

via here at etsy

...and the three little ducks that have made my wishlist. Currently available at Domayne.  I've also been given the tick of approval with this set! V. happy with my little find!

Have a lovely weekend everyone.  I'm off to another Hen's tonight because all our friends have decided to get married all at the same time. Yay for me, my wallet and my liver!
Jx