happy weekend

what's plans for the weekend?

final coat of paint for the spare room.

getting rugged up to catch the train in

meeting friends for some drinks

yessa, possibly a big one.

fathers day on sunday

i miss you dad.

this is us, well our feet, on the staten island ferry..

i love random shoe snaps - they're my best angle :)

anthropologie

Anthropologie Rockefeller windows

It became an obsession, we had to go to as many stores in every city we visited. I gawked at so many amazing props, installations, large scale paper window displays, big daisy chains made of recycled plastic bottles, suspended boats displaying beautiful linens. I recognized some Aussie wares; Lazybones & Mor Cosmetics and as usual furniture and home ware levels were my favorite.

I can imagine working for Anthropologie would be a visual merchandisers dream. Plently have said it (or blogged about it) before, but I want this job.

NYC: looking up

Got a severe case of bloggers fatigue..

Currently culling through the hundreds (no kidding) photos from our trip. Sadly there's definitely quantity, not so much quality. I really wish I could take better photos. Sigh.

Whilst in NYC, we met up with our beautiful friends Han & James, who made it over from London. James was quite enamored by the various fire escapes, admiring their designs, critiquing and praising the well decorated ones. There were bright cherry red ones, and some entwined in fairy lights. Oh crap, perhaps I should have taken more photos...

Photos of the lower east side : outside Babycakes, the cutest cupcakery; bow tie uniformed staff, bunting hanging from the ceiling. This natural vegan organic bakery was jammed packed.

stars and palm trees

via summer goals

Home now, eye lids are heavy, feeling tired and jet lagged. Back in to the swing of things soon...

happenings

via jenifer altman flickr

Some weeks ago I eluded to some happenings..

A little over a month ago we went to an auction bought a little house nearby the beach. We saw it for a total of 30 minutes, after only 1 pre-sale viewing, come auction day and some major heart palpitations we had ourselves a new home.

It's a small semi detached 1920's Art Deco on a long block, in a livable condition (meaning we don't have to update anything in a hurry, lucky for us slow pokes). There's a good size backyard, with room to extend. Archie will finally have some grass and possibly another fur friend. I can't wait to finally have somewhere sit outside, a little garden and attempt a vegie patch. Equally excited about new places to eat, deli's and grocers and a new neighborhood to discover.

We'll be moving out of our flat in a month. As much as we'll miss it, after 8 years we've out grown it and knew it was time to move on. Amid the chaos, 7 days after we get our keys, we'll fly out to LA, San Francisco and NYC on a whirlwind holiday.

We booked our flights pre-house auction when we convinced ourselves to give up on house hunting and just enjoy life as it was.. but then, I guess what's meant to be is meant to be. I occasionally freak out but know it will be an experience that we'll never forget. A final hoorah to live selfishly.. who knows it will likely be our last ever holiday :)

So folks, if there's any eateries, cute parks, museums, music gigs, bars or shopping secrets you'd like to share, please do!

Many thanks!

xx

vietnam: hoi an

One of the many distressed buildings in Hoi An, Vietnam.

It was this time last year JD and I packed our bags, crisp passports and made our first overseas trip. It was an amazing experience for us both. I met some family for the first time and imaged a life which could have been..

I loved Hoi An for it's beautiful architecture and enjoyed the slower pace in comparison to the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh, which JD loved. I felt dainty riding bicycles around and watched the dreamy lanterns float down the canal at night.

Sapa and it's people were beautiful. Breathtaking views - literately breathless, whilst trekking up mountains and weaving around rice paddies. JD and I were crowned the king and queen of Sapa momentarily for the day.

At the end of our trip in Ha Noi, to much surprise JD proposed; spontaneous, simple, sweet and heartfelt.