One for all the budding photographers out there. A fab opportunity!

Dear Adam,

Last week we would have celebrated your 29^th birthday. It makes me wonder where ten years went and what might have been.

I can remember the day of your accident vividly. The same way I know exactly what I was doing when Princess Diana was killed, or the day Steve Irwin died.

July 10, 2003 will forever be the day I first drove a European car. The day I returned a top that was too small and drank tea with my parents. This was the day you were taken from us.

You and I were very different. You were cool, popular and fun. You knew people. I was the nerdy girl people avoided. Or copied from. I think maybe we sat together in our German class. Perhaps the teacher put you there, or perhaps it was the only seat left. But either way, we made friends.

My most cherished memory of you is of my debutant ball. While the other girls wondered whether they would go with their boyfriends – depending on whether they were broken up or together that week – you and I were the best of friends and there was never any question of going with someone else.

That day and night is one of the best in my entire life. And I’m grateful to have an album of memories to remember, together with a necklace of green plastic beads that you gave me at some point in our seven-year friendship, that will forever be my reminders of you.

Your funeral was only the second I’d had to attend in my life to that point, but to compare yours to my grandfather, who had lived a full life, is unfair. Your best friend spoke so eloquently – I don’t think I would have been brave enough. I can’t imagine I have ever cried as much as I did that week.

You were funny and smart and clever. You were kind and loving and sweet. Your hugs were famous and your cheeky smile adored by everyone. Which made losing you so much harder.

I miss you.

Sarah

~

Nine and a half years ago, one of my very best friends was killed in a car accident.

Nearly ten years on, and I still miss my friend. I imagine each and every one of you has a similar story to mine – our road toll is too high for everyone not to know someone affected by it.

So I ask you to heed this lesson and slow down. You might think ‘it won’t happen to me’ – but the truth is, it can. The pain of losing a friend or family member is not worth the risks you might take; getting there five minutes earlier; avoiding the major roads or checking your phone on the go.

Because we’d hate to plan your funeral.

#slowdown

A few nights back I was a little bit excited (okay a LOT excited) to be invited to the Melbourne Zoo to experience I, Animal, the newest ‘attraction’ on offer and one designed especially for grown ups.

The experience takes place after the Zoo is closed for normal opening hours, commencing at 6.30pm and just in time for the Summer season. After you have been given an iPod device – known as ‘Zoe’ – a few questions on the custom software encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and choose the animal you would most like to visit – Elephant, Giraffe, Penguin or Monkey. The voice of Zoe then guides you through the Zoo, stopping at various spots for a lesson, story or visit with the animals.

Our journey took us on the Penguin tour, an educational and enlightening experience that encourages you to open your mind and think deeper about your own life – What you are afraid of?, What do you regret? These questions address how you can use the lessons of animals to make changes for your own future. The tour is funny, poignant and at times, wildly left of centre, but it all works – and as the brochure says, this is a Zoo experience for grown ups.

The evening concludes with an opportunity to enjoy a drink in the park and a ride on the Carousel, another childhood experience (like the Zoo), participants may have forgotten.

The I, Animal experience will run nightly (all weather), and is $39 for adults.
More information can be found at Zoos Victoria.

Last weekend we headed up to Echuca for a mini break (as Bridget Jones would say – A mini break means true love!) for a bit of a getaway and R&R – and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. When Echuca was suggested, I was skeptical. Um, isn’t Echuca like, the real country?

I know I am quite the princess (you know it too) and so the search for accomodation that was up to my royal standards began. There would be no down and out motels with brown carpet and curtains for us!

Check out the Adelphi Apartments. These rooms are a little bit city with all the appeal of the country. Modern, but quiet. Sophisticated, but homely. In essence: my kind of place. We stayed in the Courtyard Suite, a one bedroom studio-esque room with a kitchenette and en suite, that had a private courtyard area. The apartments complex has a pool (which I didn’t know and failed to take bathers for) and you are minutes walking to the Murray, Main Street and the Campaspe River is right out the back gate.

The Shamrock Hotel is famous for its Parmas – all 250 varieties of them – and, lucky me, one of them is Gluten Free! I don’t think I’ve had a Parma in about ten years so this was quite the novelty. I will confess to having a frozen coke and soft serve ‘McFloat’ at the McDonalds as well. Only in Echuca!

We also visited the Millewa Spa Retreat for massages and I was suitably impressed with the facilities – you know, for the country. The spa is beautifully fitted out, our treatments were lovely and the staff – at all the venues we visited – all divine.

Our weather was perfect, there was plenty of reading by the pool (even if I did have to do it in my underwear!) and many a walk just cause. AND we went on a Paddle Steamer.

Apparently, that’s what you are meant to do in Echuca.

For more info on things to see and do in Echuca, visit www.echucamoama.com

In love with this foldover clutch from newcomer MIKAT. The bright shades of the St George clutch are perfect for Summer, and they are designed in Melbourne! 

Katrina Wright, who founded the label, says the name is an amalgamation of the Italian word ‘Mi’, meaning me, and the designer’s nickname ‘Kat’.

I’d like to amalgamate my wardrobe with the turquoise or the orange.

www.mikataccessories.com.au

Summer Loving.
Nicholas Kirkwood Leather and Watersnake platform pumps. Approx $840AUD from net-a-porter.

Me!

I am SO excited to tell you all that my Pinterest party planning for Be. Wines Australian Launch has been found to be the party everyone wants to be at this year, and i’ll be spending the next week or so bringing my ideas to life.

A few favourites?

Well, I can tell you the event will take place at Tonic Rooftop (pray for fine weather!) and there will be lot’s of lovely fairy lights.

Top: Tonic Rooftop
Below: What the after might look like!

There will be plenty of Be. for everyone (I’m celebrating with a glass right now!) and plenty of fresh and fabulous food – savoury and sweet – for you all to enjoy.

Top: Savoury
Bottom: Sweet

Music will be provided by the coolest DJs in Melbourne, and the space will be transformed into an fresh, eco, green wonderland.

Of course with all this awesomeness at my party, I can’t imagine there will be any budget left over for a fresh frock – whats a girl to do??

I’l like to thank my very worthy fellow bloggers, especially Maria of Fashion Fazer for playing the game with me. Everyone had such beautiful plans for their parties – I wish we could have them all!

So that’s me on the left, and that’s Maria from FashionFazer on the right and we are the finalists in the Be. Wines Launch Party competition!

After what I am sure was much deliberation and discussion (and I’m sure a glass of Be.!) I was thrilled to be told I am the Melbourne finalist for this promotion.

The pinning isn’t over yet though. Keep an eye on my Pinterest boards for this last week to see who gets crowned the winner and given the chance to help create the party theme in their hometown. Melbourne or Sydney!!

Regular readers of my blog, and anyone I have met in my entire life, will know I am a massive Francophile. Having always been fond of Paris, my sheer love of the city changed when I visited in 2011. I was obsessed.

Given my schedule (and severe lack of travel dollars) prevents me from going to Paris as often as I might like, its nice to know I can get a decent macaron and glass of champagne (NOT sparking wine) in Melbourne, at the Paris to Provence festival.

Now in its 3^rd year, the Paris to Provence festival takes place in South Yarra, at Como House and embodies all things French. Of course this includes fabulous food and entertainment, demonstrations and a cocktail party.

Also having watched the Tour de France in exquisite detail this year, I’m familiar with Gabriel Gate’s Taste le Tour and excited to reveal he will be entertaining a group of people for an intimate evening, describing exactly what the experience was like for him.

Poetry, wine tasting, chocolate appreciate, mimes, live music, a market and all the French food you can eat. Don’t miss this one!

The Paris to Provence Festival runs Friday November 23 to 25 at Como House in South Yarra. Tickets can be purchased on the website, or you can win a double pass just by commenting on this post and telling me what you love about France (drawn randomly on Friday 16th November).