snippets of a winter wonderland weekend

Christmas markets are always so magical

George and my handbag in the snow.

This weekend included:

1. a perfect extended dinner party on friday night

2. festive christmas markets

3. tea drinking

4. movie watching

5. snuggling

6. a pub lunch

7. getting upset over Wagner leaving X-factor (haha)

8. watching the snow fall

9. and pretty much just not leaving the couch which means...no photo taking.

My weekend also included work, which wasn't the best for a chilled out snowy weekend. Luckily I have both wednesday and thursday off this week which is made even more special by one of my oldest friends coming to visit all the way from down-under. So...more photos to come. Don't you worry! 

Monday is already over horrraaah. Im looking forward to my mid-week weekend. 

topshop shoes

Both these pairs of Topshop shoes are currently at the top of my wishlist. Although, I want the colours switched haha, the boots in black and the loafters in tan. Luckily christmas is just around the corner....hint, hint. 

Speaking of christmas, today marks the day of all the festive lights and german markets starting up in nottingham and i am absolutely loving it. This is what this country does amazingly; christmas spirit.

But now I am off to watch Australia beat England in the ashes. 

the new uniform.

The maxi skirt = new uniform. Absolutely loving it these days. I was skeptical at first, thinking it wouldnt suit me but i decided to go for it and got this beautiful American Apparel chiffon version. It's stunning, and i am so happy i got it. Thought it goes nicely with a tailored blazer but also cant wait to wear it with a big cozy knit. Ive got my eye on the perfect one. Lucky its pay day on friday wooo. And I just had to add the perfect winter accessory; the ear-muffs. Oh and allsoooo, this t-shirt is the same one I wore here but i just wanted to show it in its full amazingness. The best throw on tee ever.

I hope everyone had a brilliant day or having a brilliant day for those still experiencing it. You are all lovely and make me love blogging so much. So thankyou! See you tomorrow.

the little things that made my sunday as awesome as it was.

1/ the most chocolately and indulgent hot chocolate everrrr. If you are a serious chocolate lover like myself, go treat yourself to a hot chocolate milano from Cafe Nero. You won't regret it.

2/ the coziness of my faux fur coat. im pretty much sleeping in it. love that it has a hood too. perfect for the english rain when i forget an umbrella which is every day.

3/ spending nearly 3 hours with some of my oldest friends; harry, ron and hermione. the movie was absolutely brilliant, cannnot wait until the 2nd part.

4/ finished off with some yummmy quesadilla's

5/ at T.G.I's. Just a taste of the USA for a cheeky sunday night dinner.

I love days like this. I hope everyone had a brillllliant weekend! 

xx

columbia road flower market.

Scenes from the ultimate weekend at Columbia Road Flower Market for your friday evening.
As I said before, this market is the most vibrant and cheerful way to start your sunday morning. 
Now that i know ill be living in London for a good few years, I know ill be coming back to this little beauty. 
Sunday mornings strolling along the flower lined paths, picking up some gorgeous bunches for the week, along with some fresh bread and cheese and finished off with a well needed cup of coffee. 
Doesn't sound too bad too me!
Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend
xx

my beautiful mum

"No matter how your relationship is defined, your mother - present, absent - leaves the biggest footprint on your life. She inhabits you, she defines you."

Elle December 2010

The other day while on the bus I read the most beautiful article/memoir in December Elle about the bond between mother and daughter. It asked the question: What comes to mind when you think of your mother? My answer: I honestly dont know what I would do without my beautiful mum. She is my best friend in the whole entire world.

George getting a job is so incredibly amazing but it also means the next few years of our lives will be located in London. Not that I have anything against that (as you know, I loveee london) but it means I will be away from my good old muggsie moochoo (mums nickname haha). So this post is dedicated to my best friend, my role model, and my mum:

(the whole fam in melbourne jan 2010)

"No one will ever care quite as much about whether you take your vitamins, whether you get enough sleep, whether you're getting too thin. You'll take your mother for granted because she lets you, because you know she'll always forgive you. But if you're lucky enough to have a good one - and many of us do - count every single one of your lucky stars. She's your history, your future, and she's got your back."

Elle December 2010

the ultimate weekend.

This weekend was one where its taken quite a few days to get back into normal life routine. It was The.Ultimate.Weekend. 

I had work all day saturday so we got the bus down to The Big Smoke i.e London on the saturday night and stayed until monday night.

The weekend looked just like this:

Columbia Road Flower Markets - probably the best and most vibrant way to start your Sunday. All of last year, I was dying to visit these cute little markets, although, somehow I never got the chance. Finally my time came & they definitely lived up to my expectations. The cute little stores lining the markets are not to be overlooked either. 

And ofcourse, the beautiful flowers cant go without a mention too. Look how bright they are. As i said, the most vibrant way to start your day. I loved it. I could have taken home every single bunch.

It was so intimidating/embarrassing getting photos here as i felt like I was in everyones way rushing to get there flowers haha, so the result is a rather awkward-looking me. 

After being marketed out (after the flower markets, we visited Brick Lane Markets, although, weren't the biggest fans. I think i need a brick lane guru to take me around and show me the best stalls next time because i really dont see what all the fuss is about based on my experience from the weekend) we found our way to Albion Cafe which was so incredibly yum and relaxed. I have a blog post dedicated to it coming up, just you wait. But here you have the preview of what we had for a beautiful brunch. It was so lovely sitting in there sipping on a creamy cappuccino (and alternating with a fresh and fruity smoothie) while it was pit-pattering outside (classic english weather) it just makes you realise that relatively small things make you so incredibly happy.

When we had nearly outstayed our welcome at the lovely Albion cafe, we headed from east london into central london. This would normally be incredibly simple considering there is a tube system which links all areas of london up, although on sundays it has the tendency to not co-operate. So what should have taken about 15 minutes unded up taking about 1.5 hours haha. And now the pit-pattering wasnt so charming any more. To help, I did get a red umbrella to go with my red scarf from "poundworld" which lasted all of 20minutes and caused more frustration than convenience when it kept being turned inside out every 30seconds haha. 

But anyway, we finally made it. We got off the tube at westminster and went for a lovely walk through St James' park and along Piccadilly, stoping at Laduree for a cheeky/scrumptious macaroon and carrying on through burlington arcade where we ended up at Saville row (pictured above). This has to be one of my favourite streets in London. And now I love it even more seeing as The Olsens named The Row after it. I love them. 

But I dont think this photo could be more "british" which is why i love it so much. 

4pm and we are hungry/thirsty again. So this obviously calls for beer (wine for me) and pizza time at one of our favourite places - Rocket in mayfair. They have 2 other ones in the city and in Canary wharf but ive only been to the one in mayfair and i love it. Its down the cutest little cobblestone alleyway just off Bond street. The pizzas are delicious and they make some awesome cocktails too.
This was the perfect sunday afternoon break from walking endlessly around the amazing city. We had just been in Selfridges before this which was so unbelievably hectic. Selfidges is amazing though isnt it. I love that place. I just want to go one morning on a weekday when its pretty chilled and i can find my way around the place properly. Much like Harrods. Ive been there countless times, but still feel like I have no idea where anything is. I would love to go to Laduree in Harrods too. Along with Laduree in Paris ofcourse. 

To top our amazing sunday in london off, we headed to westfield at shepherds bush where we window shopped, got some more yummy coffee and bickered about which movie we were going to see haha. After going around in circles over and over and over about whether we should see Paranormal activity 2 or Eat, Pray, Love we finally came up with the brilliant plan for tossing for it and luckily I won and we got to go and see Eat, Pray, Love. Just as well though, because it would have been an absolute waste of money for me to go see that ridiculously scary movie as i would have just kept my eyes shut, ears covered singing "lalalalala" the whole time. 
I love westfield at shepherds bush. It is so christmassy at the moment too which makes it even more special. Ahhh how magical is christmas in london. Just magnificent! There is even an ice skating rink in the middle of it at the moment. Crazy!

Sooo now onto Monday. This was meant for me to be going to Blackheath to go back to the school I worked at last year to see the little munchkins. Although, that plan got sidetracked as we found out some amazing news which caused for a celebration right away (its coming up, dont you worry). 
So our morning ended up being spent strolling through Green Park with the view of Buckingham Palace and fallen golden leaves everywhere. The definition of beautiful. George and I were just in the best moods and were pretty much skipping down the little leaf-lined pathways in the beautiful, enchanted park. 
Another perfect way to start your day - a crisp, wintery morning walk through one of london's royal parks. However, any lovely park can be substituted in. 

Carrying on through all beautiful streets of the belgravia area was just really quite inspiring. I love walking around big cities and thinking to myself and just really appreciating that exact moment you are in. Because so often, time just gets away from me without even realising it. Like right now, I cant believe its already thursday morning (2.30am, lucky i have the day off tomorrow woo) - this lovely weekend just went way too quickly. It always does though when your having fun. 
But as I was walking down these streets in which i did many times last year, i realised i never really stopped to look at the gorgeous buildings. They are just absolutely stunning. Its another one of londons cheeky little charms isnt it - all the history. Its a fantastic culture shock for someone from sydney which is a really young country in comparison, therefore, lacking in the years and years and years of history. 

Onto the good news of the day - in the morning we found out George got a job! He got a graduate job!  It is so incredible considering that the unemployment rate for graduates in this country is pretty damn high (from what i hear anyway). So this means, after he graduates with a degree in economics at nottingham in june next year, we will have a full summer of holidaying before he starts his job at Lloyds Banking Group in september. I am so proud of him. It was the perfect end to a perfect weekend. 
We went to Harvey Nichols cafe and terrace for a beautiful lunch along with a bottle of champagne (given) to celebrate the absolutely amazing news. 
We even got some more macaroons for dessert. Its true, macaroons are the new cupcakes. They are taking over the world. Im not complaining though, they are bloody delicious.
And that was the end to our perfect weekend.
Just one more picture:

I miss you already London. But Ill be back before you know it. 
:)
I hope everyone had a brilliant day.

where im hiding

CURRENTLY: In London and couldn't be happier. I will be back tomorrow. Hope you all had an awesome weekend :)

xxx

november inspiration

I am constantly inspired by anything and everything in this world. 

Things from; the beautiful polish models for Viva! Moda, macaroons, rain in London, finding scrumptious recipes, the hype thats surrounding Lanvin for H&M, a beautiful apartment, Emma Watson for Marie Claire, New York's street signs, a beautiful little bunch of flowers, and that Burberry coat.

I hope these images inspire you too. 

Its wednesday = nearly weekend. Wooo Hooo.