Ring Around

Every girl needs a treasure that looks like something bought in a far away land, in the most remote market. Ringing in at $121, this gem can be yours for less than a bus ticket to the city next door.

Take Note

Last month I was selected as one of Google's Blogs of Note. Not only did I not know what this meant at the time, but I also was oblivious to the stir it would cause! I've since connected with so many great people and have been introduced to several new blogs that provided delightful, not to mention needed, reprieve as I was swimming in boxes and charged with the exhausting task of unpacking. 

When fellow Blog of Note-er Natalie Walton asked to profile me for her fabulous blog, Daily Imprint, I jumped at the opportunity. By day she's a deputy editor at Australia's Real Living magazine and by night, blogger extraordinaire. Head over to learn a thing or two about me, but more importantly to fall in love with her scores of page, err, screen-turning interviews with artists, designers, photographers and all-around creatives!

[photo by Thayer Allyson Gowdy.]

The Curious Case

Every email from Obsolete makes me believe, even if for one second, that I too should own alligator skeletons, primitive artist models, wall-sized kitchen settees and 100 year old French jars to hang from trees in my yard. Strange, yes. Curious, most definitely. 

Night Vision

This eye mask would sure liven up those stodgy red-eye flights.

[photo via Belinda Zollo.]

Refueled: Revisited

Photographer, designer, collector and master of all things creative, Cheryl Schulke is a genius at capturing the essence of an entire room in a single vignette shot. Here are a few of my favorite outtakes from the images she took for the Refueled photoshoot. Seeing snippets of my previous home in all its glory takes me on one heck of a trip down memory lane!

Summer Lovin'

Refueled's much anticipated Decor edition has finally dropped! As promised, dive into Austin's Hotel Saint Cecilia, collectors Bruce and Julie Webb's Waxahachie-based museum/home and the 1926 Houston bungalow of yours truly [pages 46-61]—plus inspiring contributions from photographers Olivia Bee and Dustin Humphrey. Just the type of kick-your-feet-up summer reading that I plan to pour through again and again...

Turn Up the Heat

Spicy Zucchini Spaghettini was one of my first meals in KL. It's not region specific or a major player in the Malay cuisine by any stretch of the imagination, but it's definitely tasty! As the temperatures rise, I'm craving no-nonsense, simple summery meals all the more.


Spicy Zucchini Spaghettini

spaghetti
zucchini, julienned
pine nuts
red chili flakes
feta cheese, crumbled
fresh squeezed lemon juice
salt and pepper
olive oil

Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add zucchini and cook about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add chili flakes to desired intensity, but don't leave this ingredient out because the heat makes this dish sing!

Cook spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain, reserving ¼ cup pasta water. Add pasta to skillet with zucchini and heat for 1 minute, adding some of the reserved pasta water if too dry. Remove from heat, add feta, pine nuts and fresh lemon juice. Toss to combine and serve immediately. If you're looking for more substance in this pasta, shrimp and garlic would be great additions as well.

Break the Ice

With all the places on my must-travel list, Iceland's never been in my Top 10. Not that I have anything against Iceland, but I'm more of a Maldives, Monaco, Cinque Terre sort of girl. 

...or so I thought until I saw these photographs.

Lounge Around

We're on a hunt for pool loungers and I'm exploring fabric options to cover the pads. Trina Turk's outdoor prints are currently topping my list. The punchy colors are hard to resist and would compliment my patio umbrella just swimmingly.

Hang On

I don't think I've seen a more clever use of antlers. Thanks Jamie!

Mix and Match

I melt for flawlessly mixed and matched prints in both fashion and interiors. Layers upon layers of engaging goodness that create far more interest than their solid counterparts!

[via Kate Spade.]

[via Brown Design.]

Killer Show

I've been MIA for all of May and can't wait to get back into a normal routine. Chalk it up to moving, to unpacking an entire household and then dealing with an average of 10 contractors per day to get this rental in working order, but I'm spent. My week in Perth now feels like eons ago since I'm early to bed and early to rise, all with no Internet, TV or husband [darn work travels] for comic relief.

Watching movies from my laptop is my newfound habit and a fix for my latest obsession: Dexter. Now in it's third season, the Showtime series centers around a serial killer who works as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department. It's clever and twisted, suspenseful and addictive. I find myself watching multiple episodes at a time then wondering whether I should finish the entire season in one sitting, though fully aware I wouldn't be able to sleep if I took the plunge. And my favorite part? Dexter's opening title sequence is one of the most creative around—a perfect introduction to the dark humor awaiting. Really, it's to die for.

Cheers, Mate!

I've spent the week drinking as much local Australian wine as my head I could handle. We live in a country with strict alcohol import laws, so we're unfortunately restricted on how much we can bring home [1 liter per person, which means I now have a mile long list for each time J returns!].

Should you be on the market for a new bottle or five, here are my recent favorites and their vineyard's tasting notes. Ranging from $12 - $30 a bottle, there's something for everyone.


Elderton Barossa Shiraz, 2004
A nose of chocolate, vanilla and cedar and with amazing purity of fruit and showing a generosity of plum, chocolate and blackberry flavors.

Alkoomi Shiraz Viognier, 2007
Attractive aromas of violets and anise overlay toasty almond French oak. The palate is full and finely structured with ripe cherry and raspberry fruit flavors. Fine, chalky tannins and seamlessly integrated French oak lead to a full and long finish.

Dalrymple Vineyards Pinot Noir, 2007
The nose displays lifted cool climate freshness, varietal cherry and raspberry fruits, aniseed and spiced delicate oak. The wine presents a bright, varietal palate with all the hallmarks of cool climate Pinot Noir. Cherry and raspberry fruits are demonstrated, which is balanced with fine grain tannins, classic pinot noir savouriness and cream. The wine finishes with lingering spice and cherry stone flavors.

Paringa Estate 'Peninsula' Pinot Noir, 2007
A fruit driven style that has genuine ripe pinot characteristics with considerable depth. The bouquet and palate has dark cherry fruit flavors and aromas, some spice and subtle oak characters.

Babich Sauvignon Blanc, 2007 [not Australian, but tasty enough to be included]
A pungent nose of ripe tropical fruits overlaying zesty lemon and lime greet the taster. The nicely weighted and textured palate explodes with fruit and leads into a lengthy finish of nettles and lime. This is a powerful yet balanced and refreshing wine.

All You Need is Love

Pulling inspiration from a child's imagination and her own drawings, Melbourne based fashion and accessory label Love by Geneine Honey creates innocent pieces with whimsy flair. I especially love the Dick and Jane-esque jewelry constructed from articulated wood veneer, acrylic, anodized aluminium, stainless steel and sterling silver.

Country Come to Town

I'm currently in Perth taking in all the cool mosquito free air [and local wine] I can get. Today I walked along Hay and Murray Streets, stumbling into Australia's lifestyle boutique Country Road. It's the ultimate pairing of workplace and weekend, like a combination of Club Monaco's sophistication and Anthropologie's country-femme appeal. I suddenly had the urge to outfit our entire home—and myself— in soft nautical neutrals.

Cut and Sewn

With the hours Mom and I log salivating over vintage patterns, it's a wonder anything gets accomplished. We're constantly emailing favorites back and forth, urging one another to get the sewing machines purring. Using modern fabrications and updated hemlines, any of these retro designs become fresh again. I'm a sucker for detailed construction!

Deliver the Goods

Our sea shipment has docked and the goods arrive Monday [Hallelujah]. I'll be knee deep in boxes and bubble wrap for a while, but will return well-rested. After a month and a half, I just can't wait to sleep in my own bed!

[photo by Amanda Pratt.]