Strappy Wedges.
Mine.
I can’t wait for warmer weather.

Strappy Wedges at Dotti, $69.95

I’ve always been an avid reader and prepared to give most books a go – whatever the genre – but as far as stereotypes go, I’m all about good chick lit. I love a romantic comedy as well. Yep, I am your average Jo(sephine), living out my single days by reading (and watching) happily ever after stories in fiction.

This week’s addition to my library is All For You by Shelia O’Flanagan (Hachette). Set in Ireland (as it appears most of her novels are), Lainey is a meteorologist and TV weather presenter with an up and down love life and a stubborn mother who has been absent most of her life whilst crusading for women’s rights.

Her besties are getting married, her boyfriend is avoiding the question and her mum believes no woman should belong to a man – what is Lainey to do?

Add in the hot neighbour across the courtyard and a family secret both her mother and grandmother have kept from her and you have a winning combination for a great Sunday afternoon on the couch.

I think I enjoyed this book so much because of all the references to weather, particularly the short weather term descriptors that precede each chapter. Once upon my teenage years, I fancied myself to be a meteorologist (until I discovered how much science was involved) and it was interesting to imagine what could have been – I might have found myself in Lainey’s shoes!

I have a copy of All For You to give away to a reader. Simply comment below and tell me what your favourite kind of weather is. The winner will be drawn at random on Monday 11 July at 5pm. Good Luck!

Seriously, how many days do you roll out of bed and wish you could wear your tracky dacks to work?

So what if its not socially acceptable? So what if its a massive fashion faux par? So what? IT’S COMFY!

Tomorrow, Friday July 1, you can legitimately wear your tracky dacks to work while raising money for TLC for Kids – a super worthy charity supporting sick children. It’s officially Tracky Dack Day.

Simply wear your trackies (win), sms your $3 donation (cheaper than coffee!) and enjoy a day of comfort and relaxation*.

Fashion supports Tracky Dack Day patron Sarah Gale

You might remember I attended the Fashion supports Tracky Dack Day event a few weeks ago – a showcase of designers creating off one couture trackies for auction. The night was an incredible success and bought out the best in the fashion set.

Alicia from Sea of Ghosts, me, Sarah of StyleMelbourne and Daniel from Fashionising at Fashion supports Tracky Dack Day. Image thanks to Cheryl at Busichic.

*Note: Some bosses might not take kindly to the term relaxation. Perhaps tell him/her than you will actually be more productive given you are so comfortable.

My Little Paris: This was one of my favourite iphone apps before I went to Paris. It still is – the images are delightful and though I can’t read anything on the actual app (or the website) without Google Translator, the illustrations are enough to make you close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting in a cafe in Le Marais without a care in the world.

This one is my pick of the day. Ooh la la.

It is quite possible you have heard my cries on Twitter about the fact that I downloaded some recommended update for my computer and now my blog isn’t working. I can’t upload photos from my home PC due to whatever Java did and now I can’t go back. The time I have spent searching for answers online is immense – which is why you haven’t seen actual decent content from me in quite a few days.

While I continue to search for a solution, alternatives must be found. Borrowing a computer? Uploading a photo before 9am at work? Any excuse to buy a mac?

No matter – the lovely Cecylia from Cecylia boutique has taken the stress out of blogging and blogged the event we attended last week – Eat Street!

Chef Shane Delia

A gathering of the finest in fashion and food (though I do think the food was definately the high point of this outing), Eat Street raises funds for the Australian Childhood Foundation and allows guests to taste gastronomic delights from Melbourne’s hottest eateries.

Aprons for auction, designed by Australian fashion designers and inspired by Melbourne Chefs’ signature dishes

I ran into a friend – Pierrick Boyer, star of Le Petite Gateau, and enjoyed a lovely evening with Cecylia and her husband Chian.

Pierrick and I; One of the Le Petite Gateau creations

You can follow our delightful journey through the Sofitel’s sweet and savoury retro themed night of nights at Cecylias blog, including lot’s of delicious looking photos and the places those yummy things can be found!

And if you know anyone who knows anything about computers – send them my way?

How fabulous will this dress be when I am back in Paris?
While I don’t know when that will be, I do know this dress will be mine (despite the hefty postage fees) very soon.

Year Abroad Dress, $129.99US from ModCloth.

We all know its cold. Really cold. But that doesn’t mean your spring and summer wardrobe goes out the door. Enter tights.

Thick hosiery is a winter saviour. A must have in anything 70 denier plus. Sometimes more.

But my issue of late has been old tights and new tights. Ones that have started pilling and end up in the bin, and the really good quality ones that last and last (and last) but I have no idea where I got them.

I’m starting a movement. PUT TAGS ON TIGHTS!!

Then we would know which way was front and which was back. The toes and the heels would sit properly EVERY TIME and I would know which brands last the distance and which aren’t worth the $10 a pop we poor cold girls spend per pair on average.

Last night I proved it. I can, in fact, cook. Thank you Margaret Fulton.

In the manner of Dion Lee for Cue and Stella McCartney for Target, Ms Fulton has teamed up with Woolworths and produced a bunch of recipes for the average Joe. Enough to feed the whole family and then some. She is right – they are generous serves. Enjoy.

Margaret Fultons Beef, Pumpkin and Cinnamon Pilaf
Preparation time 5 mins
Cooking time: 20 mins
Serves:4

Ingredients:
45g butter
1 onion, finely sliced (I used mushrooms)
1½ cups long grain rice, rinsed, drained
500g beef mince
300g pumpkin, peeled, cut into 2cm cubes
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 cinnamon stick
½ cup flaked almonds
pinch of ground cinnamon and roughly
chopped coriander leaves, to serve

Method:
1. Melt 30g butter in a heavy-based saucepan or flameproof casserole on medium heat. Cook onion for 2 minutes, stirring, until soft and lightly coloured. Add rice and cook, stirring, until translucent (1-2 minutes).

2. Increase heat to high, add mince and cook for another 2 minutes until no longer pink, stirring to break up any lumps. Stir in pumpkin, stock and cinnamon stick. Season to taste and bring to boil.

3. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 15 minutes, until liquid is absorbed and pumpkin is tender. Meanwhile, melt remaining butter in a small frying pan and fry almonds for 1-2 minutes, until golden and crisp.

4. To serve, remove cinnamon stick, fluff up rice with a fork and serve sprinkled with fried
almonds, ground cinnamon and coriander leaves.

Tip:
Freeze any leftovers by packing into an airtight container or snaplock bags for up to one month. Thaw during the day in the fridge and heat once defrosted. Always use a fork to handle the rice once cooked, so that the grains stay separate and fluffy. I like to keep an eye on my salt intake and unless I’ve made the stock myself, I tend to go for salt-reduced stock, or dilute the stock by substituting some of it with water e.g. for this recipe, 2 cups stock and 1 cup water.

Picture One: Margarets efforts
Picture Two: Mine

A boring Saturday can always be jazzed up with the addition of some shopping. And even for those of us who might be a bit skint this week, the prospect of looking in stores, seeking inspiration and touching beautiful fabrics can be enough to brighten even the darkest of days.

And so it was that I popped down to High Street Armadale for some retail therapy and pampering this past weekend, the prospect of which I had been dreaming of all week.

First stop should always be coffee and we followed this up with a Shallac manicure, nail polish that stays on for TWO WEEKS, no chips (We will see. Watch this space). A little pampering taken care of, my friend Miss E introduced me to Harlem clothing at 1256 High Street Armadale, a little boutique stocking vintage and second hand designer threads and manned by the lovely Emily who seemingly has lots of friends in high places.

After purchasing a vintage 80s glitter knit (it’s divine) and wanting to eat copious amounts of cake and muffins after inhaling the most amazing sweet vanilla candle on the planet, Miss E and I parted ways and I headed on over to Cecylia boutique at 1113 High Street Armadale for a bit of dress up fun.

Cecylia and her adorable puppy Theodore are always on hand to welcome fashionistas and Cecylia had a number of outfits in mind for me to play with! Over a glass of wine (it was after noon after all!), I paraded around the store in the fabulous designer wares Cecylia stocks. Which reminds me, I must buy a lottery ticket….

Top – Bottom: Silk Dress by AllDressedUp, Shoes by Repetto Klein; Silk Shirt by Sara Phillips, Silk Skirt by AllDressedUp, Shoes by Repetto Klein; Silk Shirt by Spijkers en Spijkers, Wool Skirt by AllDressedUp, Shoes by Repetto Klein

While I didn’t head out with any new frocks or shirts on this occasion, I did buy the divine hosiery Cecylia stocks – Omera. Italian and incredibly resistant to wear and tear (literally), these babies are extraordinarily intricate and just a pleasure to wear! Available in Black, Turquoise and Brown.

Massive thanks to Miss E for brightening a Saturday morning and to Cecylia for a lovely afternoon of dress ups!

To be mine in 5 to 7 business days…

Aldo Santellan Colour Block Court Shoes. On Sale, $87 AUD (with free international shipping!)
asos.com