22/52

52 portraits//capturing memories and moments//in 2013 

Linking in with Jodi over at Che and Fidel.  

 

  

Sam: concentrating on her writing project

Me: concentrating on my knitting project (I finally finished it tonight! Photos to come!)
Tiger, Appa & Quinn: concentrating on Sam & I eating breakfast in bed.
photograph #2 by Sam 
olive slouchy beanie c/o MacBeanie 

21/52 (The Boudoir Edition)

52 portraits//capturing memories and moments//in 2013 

Linking in with Jodi over at Che and Fidel.  

Sam: in bed - working hard & writing some great pieces

Me: in bed - catching up on some reading (read: blogs - it's very important, really.)
Tiger: under the bed - sniffing & searching
Appa: on the bed - bird watching
Quinn: amongst the bed sheets - weepy-eyed & sniffly-nosed (she caught Appa's flu, poor thing)
photograph #2 by Sam 

The Week That Was...26//5//13

1,2&3. Eucalyptus and daisies from our Mothers Day brunch, still going strong 2 weeks on! It's beautiful to see this spectacle each day & to burn tealights around it at night. 

4. Sam picked up these 'rag rugs' from Spotlight for $1.50ea & carpeted our kitchen tiles. Our toes have thanked us ever since!

5. My current evening ritual looks like this - Redwin Organics Orange & Bergamot Sensitive Skin Moisturiser for my face & neck, The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector on my gnarly dry hands (combined with the most attractive accessory: moisturising gloves!) , Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomogranate Oil. Beautifully-moisturised-fingers-crossed my skin makes it through this Winter!

6. Sunday's are for chocolate pancakes with orange-brandy compote. Sunday is my favourite day.

7. Busy writing whilst watching Greys Anatomy - she's an ace multitasker.

8,9&10. Charming little details at Ground Up. We enjoyed playing with the bubble wrap whilst waiting for our coffee fix.

11. The light has definitely changed this week - it makes it almost impossible to leave the bedroom when it bathes everything in soft grey shades & cast long shadows across the room.

12. Finally wrapping up handmade packages for some sweet newborns & their beautiful mamas - off on their journey this week.

13&14. Tig soaking in the vitamin D during our only above 20°C day all week. 

15. Hand-crafting journals for aforementioned beautiful mamas & a couple of birthday girls! Can't wait to show you the finished products!

*Linking in with Em for Stills: A Weekly Collection. 

An Evening With Julie Andrews*

*highly original heading, right? 

You know when you get that itch to get out of town? Be it for a vacay or a Sunday drive through the mountains - it just has to be scratched! 
Since Sam & I began dating, we usually spend a few weeks each year travelling; exploring a new city or relaxing on a sunny beach or catching up with far flung friends. Whatever it is, it scratches that itch pretty damn good - enough to leave us feeling inspired, motivated & fulfilled for the other 350 days of the year. 
Unfortunately, last year was a crazily expensive time (car troubles plus animal illness plus every white good & appliance dying = not much left in the kitty!) so we abandoned all plans for a visit to Sydneytown, & ever since, I have had an insatiable itch. The kind I was convinced could only be satisfied with a romantic Parisian holiday or an adventure in Japan. 
Turns out all I we needed was a night away in a tiny apartment overlooking the Brisbane River...& meeting Julie Andrews, well that's the cherry on top!


It all began a couple of months ago, when Sam discovered her most beloved childhood actress was traveling to our shores & for one night would be in a Brisbane theatre to share her life story with thousands of her adoring fans. She hinted at the wonder of this occasion & for once, I clued on without any further prompting.
Phone calls were made, credit cards charged & plan put into action. I kept my lips sealed (believe me, this is difficult with such an exciting event!) knowing that I had succeeded in what may be the greatest birthday gift ever*! 
I had almost forgotten about it all, when I received the call from an insanely excited wife that an unexpected package had landed on our door step - of course, addressed to her. The cat was out of the bag! We excitedly booked our apartment, made plans for a furbaby-sitter & daydreamed of our weekend away. 
Before we knew it, the day was upon us - we packed an overnight case, jumped in the car & sang our way down the mountainside to the bright & bustling city.  

The next 24 hours were a whirlwind of activities - moments of relaxation mixed with an intense intake of atmosphere & culture of the beautiful city. We took a late afternoon walk through Queen Street, marvelled at the vast view from our apartment, enjoyed breakfast in bed as the sun rose then a brunch of Max Brenner before walking along the winding river back to our diggs. Oh, & you know, revelled in An Evening With Julie Andrews!
  
*I am not sure how to top this one...& I fear it's a steady downward spiral from here!

Last, but certainly not least... Whilst I was sitting in the 'nose-bleeds', Sam was spoilt* to VIP seats, delicious treats, & a one-on-one meeting with the divine Julie Andrews...

*Big thanks to our family who made this very special Birthday treat possible!! You are incredible! xx

The Week That Was...19//5//13

1. Communal dining at Artisan

2. like a child...

3. the days are getting chillier, so we treated ourselves to beautiful new bed linen with the hope that it would make those cold wintery mornings a little more...well, beautiful

4. bright blue skies & fresh country air

5. roadtrippin' & singin' loud to Spice Girl's (don't judge us...you do it too!)

6. plenty of kitten cuddles at the RSPCA - unfortunately this is also how our Appa has caught the flu

7. morning light on crisp linen sheets during our luxurious weekend away

8. I treated Sam to a pampering afternoon at the salon - massage, wash, cut & blowout (because she couldn't possibly meet Julie Andrews with split ends!)

9. this is what my evenings look like at the moment - Sam asleep next to me, as I catch up on reading your lovely blogs! I'm sorry I've been so absent lately - seriously, life is busy right now & I'm missing you all so much!

PS. if anyone has a few extra hours to spare I'd be happy to take them of your hands!

*Linking in with Em for Stills: A Weekly Collection. 

19/52 & 20/52 (better late than never!)

52 portraits//capturing memories and moments//in 2013 

Linking in with Jodi over at Che and Fidel.  

Sam: people watching from our latest cafe discovery, Artisan // soaking in the golden, late afternoon sunshine (notice her hair between the two weeks!)

 
Me: kitten cuddling at the RSPCA // laughing at Sam's photography antics as we walked through Southbank (please ignore the fact that I am wearing the same beanie...thank goodness I have a lovely hand-knitted on it's way c/o MacBeanie!)

Tiger: she got in a little scuffle with a neighborhood cat, she has the wounds to prove it // she always has, & always will be, a sleep-in-the-bed dog (& we love her for it!)

Appa: her eyes are divine // always watching (Appa has been terribly ill with the flu this week. It has felt much like we're parents to an infant - waking every couple of hours to clean up vomit, wipe her bum & clean her runny nose. My heart has both grown with love for her & broken for her pain.)

Quinn: her furry-furrowed brow // asleep...amongst clothes on the bathroom floor (I swear all she does is sleep!)
photographs #2&#3 by Sam 

18/52

52 portraits//capturing memories and moments//in 2013 

Linking in with Jodi over at Che and Fidel.  

Sam: a visit to the RSPCA to mend our broken hearts resulted in hours of kitten cuddling - a little tender loving care goes a long way, for all involved.
Me: this is what my day off looks like - enjoying warm sunshine from a comfy couch, woolen socks & fresh pumpkin soup in my favourite mug
Tiger: tucked into bed with the covers upto her chin & tongue poking out. She melts my heart.
Appa & Quinn: tearing the house apart - they're akin to a tornado when they're playing together! (who needs kids when you've got pets like these?)


~ looking for more delightful portrait love? Grandfather & Grandbaby - Ingirds portrait of her sweet boy Roald & his grandpa is simply beautiful.

The Week That Was...28//4//13

1. Autumn-hued native flower heads - dropped from above by rainbow lorikeets after ravenously dining on its sweet nectar

2&3. they call it the 'Guilty Pleasure'. A buttery croissant with warm nutella & fresh strawberries.

4.sharing is caring, right?* (a very rare & very small treat)

5. the last chocolate egg

6. Appa & Quinn had an unwelcome visitor. Listening to them meow & growl was entertaining enough for us to sit & watch the three of them for the 10 or so minutes of this encounter.

7. Autumn really has arrived!

8&9. an ANZAC day sunrise on top of the range (more over here)

10. capturing the most beautiful sunrise I have witnessed on a most important day - a morning I won't soon forget. Also, wrapped in every woolen item I could find! It was a bloody cold dawn!

*note Tig's attention is solely on the container rather than the cats getting in on the treat.

 
*Linking in with Em for Stills: A Weekly Collection.