Spring Racing Delivered
The last few weeks have truly shown me just how busy I am. And not that I can’t ‘make time’ if I really needed to, it’s more that sometimes, there are easier ways to do things. There are services that can assist in certain areas of your life. Like cleaners, and food delivery, and asking your friendly bar tender to post your mail.
In this especially crazy Spring Racing period, the clever kids at Morgan & Taylor have introduced a super quick delivery service for Melbourne locals, ensuring that even when you forget an essential piece of your outfit, you can be assured they can take care of it – in a hurry.
Order before 3pm on a business day (and be in the 3000-3006 or 3205 postcode areas) and you’ll have something fabulous for your head before bed. This offer is available right up until Derby Day, so no matter how busy you get, you don’t need to worry about your hat (and they have purses too!).
As an avid fan of Morgan & Taylor for the past four years at Flemington, you know that these pieces are on trend, comfortable and fashion forward, sure to complete any race day outfit.
Shop online at www.morganandtaylor.com.au
Roobios Tea and I’m back in Paris
After Little Miss Melbourne and I returned from two weeks in Paris earlier this year, I became addicted to Roobios tea infused with vanilla. Having drunk almost as much of the stuff as red wine in Paris, I was shattered to discover on my return that it’s a bit harder to come by in Australia. I’ve gone all winter without it, and then today, completely by accident, I stumbled upon some in my local Coles.
Now it’s not as good as the French variety, but it’s incredible how one whiff of the stuff can place me right back in our apartment in Saint Germain, sipping tea while it snows lightly outside. Magic.
It started me thinking about other things from Paris that I miss, one of them being Kasia, the wonderful handbag designer we met on our travels. She has just launched her latest range of bags, and now we are lucky enough to be able to buy them in Australia (easily, unlike Roobios tea!).
Check out some of her gorgeous designs and the new colours! And of course the amazing Parisian background….
Freelancing update
Once upon a time, I had a real job. One where I rocked up to work at 8am, and didn’t leave until after 6pm. One with an hour lunch break that often involved toast at my desk, and one with sick pay and annual leave and a Christmas party.
What I have now isn’t a ‘real’ job – if that is, in fact, what a ‘real’ job entails, but a job that allows me flexibility and enjoyment, and the ability to eat toast wherever I like, wherever I like. I might not get sick pay or annual leave but I’d like to think the other benefits outweigh that.
Over the past two weeks, I’ve worked in a full time capacity for one of my clients, in an office with other people and a water cooler. And it was a blast. I actually liked going to work everyday. I looked forward to a wander down the street at lunchtime. I barely noticed as the hours ticked by, uninterrupted by the washing machine or the postman.
Someone else offered to make cups of tea. There was someone to tell when I found a funny clip on YouTube. And someone to ask, ‘how was your weekend’?
It’s amazing how quickly, as a freelancer, you forget about little things that make going to work everyday worthwhile. An offer to make a cup of tea, or to pick up a coffee when you pop out, can be enough to make my day. Simple office banter about life and families makes me feel connected. Having a destination to go everyday is motivational.
There is a balance between freelancing in your pyjamas and working a ‘real’ job. I can’t imagine how working mothers look after themselves, a partner, and a baby (or several!) given I couldn’t find the time to wash the dishes this past fortnight, but that feeling of having put in a full days work was quite satisfying.
As a freelancer, there are good days and bad days. On the bad days, remember why you got out of the ‘real’ job in the first place and celebrate your wins. On the good days, be awesome. The world needs more freelancers like you.
Turnbull Stakes Day
It’s finally here. Spring Racing has started for 2013 with a spectacular day out for Turnbull Stakes last Saturday, and many more (hopefully!) to come!
A few spots of rain on the way to the tram were not to dampen the spirits of those who headed to the track for the Melbourne Cup preview day, especially the girl whose shoe had broken at Flinders Street Station! Kudos to her girlfriends who, in MacGyver-esque fashion, saved her shoe with a safety pin and bandaids.
On arrival, we headed to the Flemington Fling Bar, presented by Schweppes, where DJ Andy Murphy was in residence to make music, while behind the bar, mixologists created the original races cocktail, the Flemington Fling. Nail technicians were on hand to pamper the hands of racegoers with nailart designed by Helen Thurley.
A gorgeous Samantha Wills ring, and a Flemington Fling mani!
The cocktails went down easily whilst we got our groove on early, before crossing the track to the Yellowglen marquee to enjoy some time in the sun with a glass of bubbles. Jewellery designer Samantha Wills had her fanciest cocktail rings on display and I thoroughly enjoyed sipping sparkling and trading racing tips with Phoebe of Lady Melbourne, Kyra of Pybus PR and Jan Breen Burns of Voxfrock. Note: we didn’t win!
A massive thanks to Sol Hermana for my Turnbull Stakes Day dress – a gorgeous polka dot number (which also has a matching blazer!) My headpiece is from Target (only $40!) and shoes are eBay (presumably fake) Manolo Blahnik.
L-R Me, Miranda (Style Gallivanter), Phoebe (Lady Melbourne), Erica (Melbgirl) and Charisma at the Flemington Fling Bar. Image thanks to StyleGallivanter.com
Visit the Schweppes Flemington Fling Bar at all four racedays at Flemington, on Level 1 of the Hill Stand. Expected to host over 2,000 racegoers throughout the Carnival, you can make your own at home by visiting www.cocktailrevolution.com.au.
Weddings at Eureka 89
I’d like to start this blog post with a disclaimer – I am not getting married.
Not this week. Not this year. Not soon.
And now that my boyfriend has stopped freaking out, I can tell you about one of the newest places to have a wedding, if you are in fact, getting married.
I recently was invited to preview the 89th floor of the Eureka Tower, a venue that has previously been available for functions and dinners. The team at Eureka have put together a wedding package for prospective brides and grooms, allowing them to celebrate their union, quite literally, on top of the world.
With space for 120 guests (cocktail style, minimum 80), Eureka is the kind of destination venue your friends and family don’t have to get in a plane for.
Check out the amazing views from Eureka (and imagine just how pretty it would be of an evening with all the sparkling lights!) and start dreaming about standing next to the love of your life, wearing the most amazing dress, overlooking the best city in the world.
Fabulous Frock Friday
Thanks to Aussie label Sol Hermana, I’ll be wearing this polka dot frock to Turnbull Stakes Day tomorrow. See you at the track!