Hello...? Hello!

Cannot believe it's been over an ENTIRE YEAR since my last post!  Outrageous!  It's certainly been a very busy year, settling into our new home and new way of life.   Moving to Singapore has been one of the best things we've done, and now - with some time and a lot more experience under my belt, it's time to pick up with some of the old things again.  Hence, back to posting! 

It is actually nine years ago today that my husband Des and I said 'I do' at the gorgeous Sebel Kirkton Park in the Hunter Valley.  For part of our honeymoon, we flew to Melbourne and hired a BMW Z4,  taking a leisurely cruise down the Great Ocean Road for about seven days, staying at many amazing places along the way.  My favourite spot by far was Port Fairy, where we stayed at Oscars Waterfront Hotel.  It was absolute heaven, and I'm hoping to return one day just to soak it all up for a bit longer than the two nights we did last time.   This time I'd like to split my time between Oscars and a new discovery I came across last week, Drift House.  Tell me this is not a little piece of heaven?

Drift House Exterior

Suite One

Suite One

Suite One

Suite One

Suite One

Suite Two

Suite Two

Suite Two

Suite Three

Suite Three

Suite Three

Suite Four

Suite Four

Suite Four

Suite Four

All images via Drift House

We're off!

....to Norfolk Island for ten days.  Very much looking forward to relaxing in the warmer weather, now that it's decidedly chilly here in the mornings in Canberra.

Catch you when we get back!

The Ludlow Formation

Hello and Happy 2011!  We had such a lovely break over the Christmas and New Year period and a heavy social calendar since our return from Melbourne.  January is always a bit crazy in my family, with birthdays and all sorts of other things going on.  

2011 is going to be an exciting year for our little household with some exciting plans in the works.  Isobel is starting pre-school in a few weeks and this signals time for me to get on with my career and work out what is next.  Stay tuned for updates!

Our holiday in Melbourne was the usual eating and drinking festival it always turns into.  One place I was particularly taken with was The Ludlow Formation at Southbank on the Yarra River.  Yes, the food and drink were great.....but the fitout!  AWESOME.   My husband is used to me picking up chairs, looking for manufacturer labels underneath and running my hands over every surface of a place I haven't been before - but I think even he got sick of my ooooh's and ahhhhh's this time round.  It was just the attention to detail of the design and the quality of the workmanship and materials used that sucked me in.  Very nice.  

The images from the website aren't able to show the quality of the materials or how they all worked together in such cohesion.  I was seriously in design heaven.   I loved that they  had thought so much about acoustics and had used Echo Panel on parts of the ceiling, as well as carrying the parquetry right up and across the ceiling in other parts.  Surely expensive, but oh so divine. 

The lighting had an industrial edge which worked well with the rest of fitout, particuarly against the warmth of all the timber used.  Also, some great decorative tiles and chain curtains to really break it all up.  See?  Now I'm raving.   I need to go and lie down.

All images by Will Watt for The Ludlow Formation

Holiday goodies

Earlier, I promised a little round up of some of the things I clogged up our car with during our holiday.  Seriously, Bangalow is a shoppers paradise - which is amazing considering it's basically one short little main street with a few off-shoots.  I guess it's because of the creative types that choose to call it home. There is some serious style going on in that there little town.

My first port of call was Lazybones.  I've had my eye on one of their rosette quilts  (via their website) for Isobel's bed for ages, and just kept umming and ahhhhing about it.   When I saw them in person I just had to have one (in white), plus a matching duck egg blue pillowcase, and a lovely floral pillowcase (pictured below) to finish it off.

Lazybones bed linen

There is also a great little kids shop in Bangalow called Echidna Place.  It's the sort of shop that you walk into and wish they sold everything in adults sizes as well.  I came away with these little Scruffy Dog shoes for Isobel, as well as the Sudo top below them.

Scruffy Dog

Sudo

One of my favourite shops when we visit Coolangatta is Tiny People, and they also have a shop in Byron Bay.  I picked up these lovely Salt-Water sandal's for Isobel, along with the Cocoon Clothing dress below them.

Salt-Water

Cocoon

Enough for Isobel already.  I also spoilt myself with an Evil Twin top and a RileyBurnett necklace (down from $330 to $70!) in Lennox Head.   Plus a Junk top and pair of white linen pants (surely the ultimate summer fashion!) in Byron Bay.

Unfortunately, it's been too cold to wear any of my summery purchases since we returned to Canberra.  Damn sunshine, hope it makes an appearance again soon.  This girl is all wintered out.

Byron + Bangalow

We are home this week from our little getaway to Byron Bay.  It was so lovely - we relaxed, shopped, ate and drank.  Perfection.  The weather was a bit rainy at times, but it was warm and we were just happy to be away.  Such a beautiful part of the world.

Check out this view looking back over to Byron Bay on our way to Bangalow:

View to Byron Bay

On the way from Byron Bay to Bangalow

We spent quite a bit of time in Bangalow, a cute little town about 10 minutes from Byron Bay.  It's not huge, but filled with gorgeous little homes, shops and places to eat.  I think I spent enough in Bangalow to keep the economy buoyant for the rest of 2010.  More on those purchases in a later post.

Main street of Bangalow

Is this not the cutest little chemist that you ever did see?

 Inside the chemist

The Urban, Bangalow - one of our favourite eateries

The Retro Shop

Main beach at Byron

Sunset

Our accommodation was perfect.  I highly recommend San Juan for any families looking to get away - plenty of room and a large enclosed garden, good for little monkeys to run around and play.  It's tucked away in a little laneway, so is quiet and peaceful but within walking distance off the main part of the Bay.  I loved the beachy feel of the decoration too.  Even when it was raining, I felt summery and on holiday.

San Juan

Four more sleeps....

....until we head away to beautiful Byron Bay.  We are so desperate for this holiday!  It's been a tough year and a little break away is just what we need.

One of the things I'm actually most excited about is exploring Bangalow, a beautiful little town in the Byron hinterland.  Such a cute place, filled with amazing little shops, galleries and restaurants.  Let's hope the weather is good for us!

This is one of the restaurants I have on my list.  Yes - I have a list!  And I plan on doing all of it.

Atlantic, Byron Bay

As I mentioned recently, I have booked us a lovely little family getaway to Byron Bay in September.  So can't wait!  I know I shouldn't wish my life away, but when I was hoofing it to the gym in 0 degrees at 5:30 this morning, I couldn't help but wish it was  a little closer.  And it's technically not even winter yet.....  groan.

So when I came across the Atlantic in Byron Bay on Shannon Fricke's blog the other day, it made me want to squeal with delight.  How completely divine!  Don't you want to be cosying up in that beautiful vintage Airstream right about now?  This accommodation is definitely on the list of places to stay for future hols. 

All images via Atlantic, Byron Bay