Weekend Away

I have a thing for good letterboxes - I loved the hairdo of moss this one has grown. We have just got back from a lovely few days with friends (including a gorgeous 9 month old) in the Southern Highlands village of Bundanoon. It's the first time this Summer I have appreciated our unseasonal weather...the chill in the air felt rather fitting for such a sleepy, yummy-food focused weekend. Below are photos from our Saturday morning:

Cute shop alert - The Good Yarn is a charity shop in the centre of the village that sells gorgeous baby knits and handicraft. Baby Nina picked up these too-cute $10.00 booties (that stay on)!

The majority of the weekend was spent exploring, (I spent an hour walking around the long-standing and beautiful cemetery but it didn't feel right to take my camera), and lazing around indoors with the baby.

I recommend thinking about Bundanoon for your next weekend getaway. It's 90 minutes drive from Sydney (and with trains that go to Central Station). Check out some of the sweet houses available for rent on Stayz. Pack some friends and good wine and do your food shop in nearby Bowral before settling in for the weekend. You could also think about treating yourself to a meal at Biota, the restaurant I wrote about here.

I hope you all had a great weekend!

-Briar

Beautiful Bolognese

I think the chef Ferran Adriá is one clever man. He is famous for his thirty course gourmet menu at the now closed restaurant, elBulli in Catalonia, Spain. My husband bought his book A Day at elBulli a few years ago, which is filled with a 'behind the scenes' snapshot of the restaurant. You will also find impossible recipes to follow that sound more like science experiments....this is where the clever part comes in. Adrià recently published a 'home cooking' book The Family Meal which appeals more to a person like me (an ok cook, definitely no chef). I highly recommend the easy and hearty Bolognese recipe, which I have cooked twice now. It's almost as good as my mum's!

Pasta Bolognese by Ferran Adriá

This sauce will keep for five days in the fridge or six months in the freezer, so divide it into handy portions and freeze for later use. Makes 2.5kg.

• 225g butter
• 1.2 kg minced beef
• 350g pork sausage meat
• 500g onions
• 150g celery

• 400g carrots
• 150ml extra virgin olive oil
• 12g tomato purée
• 1.6 kg tinned chopped tomatoes
• pinch of sugar

1. Put a large pan over a medium-high heat, then add the butter and let it melt. Add the beef mince, fry until it has changed colour, then add the sausage meat. Cook for a few more minutes, season with salt and pepper, then cook for 15 minutes longer, stirring frequently, until dark golden brown.
2. Meanwhile, finely chop the onions, celery and carrots. Put another pan over a low heat, then pour in the olive oil. Fry the vegetables gently until softened, about 12 minutes. Add the meat to the vegetables and mix everything together well. Add the chopped tomatoes and the tomato puree. Season with salt, pepper and sugar. Simmer the sauce for 1 ½ hours until the meat is very tender. Serve the pasta (traditionally tagliatelle) with a large spoonful of the sauce and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Brian Hoy @ Mitchell Road Auctions

It's been a while since I've spoken about a retail space on here - new ones in Sydney seem few and far between lately (although there is no shortage of web ventures - and I'm shopping online for work more than ever). I was pleasantly surprised on Tuesday when I walked around the ground floor auction area at Mitchell Road Antique Centre in Alexandria for the first time in over a year (I'm going to be honest, one had to be in the right mood to sift through the crap and clutter on the ground floor). I was pleasantly surprised - the establishment changed hands towards the end of last year, and it's really obvious. I was particularly drawn to (Interior Designer) Brian Hoy's market area, his stock and merchandising seen above is super beautiful - and very reasonably priced. What an eye! The best bit? You can purchase items on the spot now from all the auction stall holders. Mitchell Road is definitely worth a re-visit - always the first floor, and now, the ground.

Wedding Preparation

My cousin Billie and her husband Elliott's beautiful wedding on the 29th December was the main reason for our trip to Noosa over the Christmas period. We had such a lovely and indulgent time, surrounded by my large family (but boy, did I miss being able to drink the bubbly that was flowing). The lead up to the wedding was certainly a family affair. The day before - myself, my mum, grandma, younger sister and two cousins gathered at the wedding venue (my aunt and uncle's hinterland property) to drink tea and make 50+ metres of gelato coloured bunting and 120 red velvet cupcakes - see my sister's recipe here. On the big day, my bridesmaid duties took over - and my camera was put down for the first time in a while. Disappointing in hindsight, but I look forward to sharing the professional photos with you soon - everything from the stunning bride, the spunky groom and his groomsmen, the decorations including pineapples, to the huge fireworks display (seems you get more bang for your buck in Noosa when it comes to cracker night).

On another note, thanks so much for your kind words regarding our baby news. Along with my rapidly growing waistline, It certainly feels 'real' now!

Have a great week,

Briar

Baby

Happy New Year to you all, I hope you all managed to get some sort of break over the festive season. I'm looking forward to catching up on all the blogs I regularly visit, as I have managed to keep my laptop turned off since December 23rd (making sure I had a 'proper' break). It feels good to be back, and I'm actually looking forward to getting back to work on the film tomorrow. I have photos to share from our holiday that I'm yet to sort through, but my big news for 2012 is...

The Stanley's are having a baby!

I'm just over 21 weeks pregnant, and Mark and I are very excited. Now that I am over the 14 weeks of 'hell and back' morning sickness, I can think about some of the fun stuff - the bambino's room and coming up with a name...oh, how I love thinking of names. Being an enthusiastic collector of lots of things, our future little one has no shortage of treasures accumulating (mainly Christmas gifts from excited family) in the guest bedroom. I'm obsessed with clearing out the clutter this week to make space for our new roomie, so my local Vinnie's should be high fiving me pretty soon.

While I'm many months off from becoming a 'mum blogger' (and don't worry, I have no plans on becoming an over-sharer who talks a little too much about the baby's bowel movements) - I do like the words and photos on these super stylish parenting-focused blogs:

One Claire Day, Rummey Bears, Dear Olive, Che and Fidel, Potty Mouth Mama

Cheers to 2012 everyone - to lovely blogs, health, happiness and new babies!

- Briar

A carnival on my table

The Stanley family of two skipped dressing a tree this year. Instead, I raided the craft cupboard and dressed our dining area nook with anything remotely festive (partly due to laziness, partly due to a bulging craft cupboard in dire need of a clean out). I have two days left of work and then I'm on a jet plane to sunny (hopefully) QLD. I just love this time of year...I hope you all have a fabulous and safe break with lots of mangoes, pudding, and prawns with pink sauce (my grandma makes the best pink sauce - see below for the recipe). Thanks for checking in on my blog this year, and keeping in touch with your comments and emails. I'll see you all on the flip side in 2012! x

P.S. My husband almost learnt the hard way that the red dots are vintage buttons I found ages ago at Salvo's Merrylands, not chocolate lollies. I love how the thought of me throwing jaffas around the house and passing it off as decorating doesn't faze him.

Enid's Seafood (Pink) Sauce

1 x small carton of fresh cream

1 x very generous dollop of tomato sauce

Splash of Tabasco

1 x teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce

Juice from quarter of a lemon

Season with salt & pepper

- Whisk until all combined and feast on it with fresh peeled prawns and yummy bread (in your cossie, by a pool).

It's a wrap!

I love the feeling of accomplishment when you tie the last ribbon on your pile of Xmas gift wrapping. Another year done. As we will be away for the big day this year, I got it over and done with earlier than normal (ie.not Christmas Eve). Being a fan of setting a theme, I like to mix it up every year - and decided this year it would be hot pink horses. Not really sure why.

The project:

I purchased craft timber horses and pigs from Spotlight ($4.00 for a pack of 5), spread them out on large sheets of white paper I bought from an art shop and chose the sickliest pink spray paint I could find at Bunnings.

I then let loose with the spray can (outside, on an old bed sheet). The result: Sheets of inexpensive custom made wrapping paper and spray painted animal gift tags. Too easy.

Check out some of my other (slightly less time consuming) efforts here, here, here and here.

Happy wrapping!

Bonnie the Baker

I'm definitely not known for my baking skills (remember the scone)? It's handy that my sister Bonnie likes to often gift us with her baked treats on a Sunday. Last weekend it was a tupperware container of goodness with Ginger & Pistachio Slice. Bonnie kindly offered to share her recipe with you all:

Make the slice:

1 cup pistachios - raw and shelled

125 grams butter

1 packet milk coffee biscuits

1 cup coconut (shredded or dessicated)

50 gram finely chopped/diced ginger

1/2 cup condensed milk

1. Lightly roast the pistachios on a tray in oven for 5-6 mins- at 180C.

2. Coarsely chop pistachios and put half aside for topping.

3. Melt butter.

4. Crush wine biscuits with a rolling pin until fine (rather than a food processor).

5. In a bowl, mix all ingredients except for the reserved pistachios.

6. Press the mixture into a slice tin lined with baking paper.

7. Place in fridge (until icing is ready)

Make the icing:

2 cups icing sugar

80 grams softened butter

2 tablespoons golden syrup

2 teaspoons ground ginger

2 tablespoons milk

1. Using an electric beater beat all ingredients together until creamy.

2. Pull slice/base out of fridge and spread the butter icing over the base and sprinkle top with reserved pistachios.

3. Place back in the fridge until slice and icing are firm.

4. Once set (2-3hrs), pull out of tray and slice into neat pieces. Slice is best stored in the fridge.

I definitely recommend making these - or at least, asking your little sister to whip them up.

Plate from Country Road, napkin from Cloth.

- Briar

Billie the Bride

Along with her five other bridesmaids, I helped organise a hens day on Saturday for a special bride, my beautiful little (by 5 weeks) cousin. I mentioned her Noosa wedding and invitation here, and the hens invitation designed by her big sister from Zed & Bee also didn't disappoint. We asked the guests to meet us at Manly Pavilion for high tea, dressed in 1930's garb.

With a request from the bride for no 'novelty straws', I made butterfly pins for the guests (and an extra special one for Billie).

The sun was miraculously shining down for us on the beautiful 1933 built Tea Room, which now houses Manly Pavilion.

Guarantee a laugh at your next hen's day...I made 35 life size masks of the groom for the guests...so he was quite literally, everywhere, all day.

We also asked the guests to bring a vintage teacup for Billie to make up an eclectic tea set for her to cherish forever. It was such a lovely day all round, and I can't wait to share pictures from the wedding with you (counting down the sleeps).

Thank you to everyone who left comments on my last post - I hope you got some great christmas gift ideas. My wish list certainly grew bigger after reading all the suggestions. I wish you could all be winners - however, I asked my husband to pick the winners at random, and...

The winner of Prize #1: Catherine

The winner of Prize #2: Jodi

Congratulations ladies! I'll be in touch for your delivery addresses - make some room for lots of Have You Met Miss Jones goodies.

I hope you a had a lovely weekend too.

- Briar

Christmas Giveaway with Miss Jones

Gift giving (and the wrapping part) is one of my favourite past times...especially at this time of year. Jennifer from Have You Met Miss Jones has come to the gift giving party by supplying me with the mother load of bone china and a beautiful necklace to give away to you - my lovely readers. What do you have to do to be in the running to win one of the two gift packs? I thought we could compile a big gift guide in my comments box - just let me know what's on your wish list this year, and feel free to leave a link too. I will pick two comments at random next Sunday, and a big box of goodies will be on their way to the winners.

Prize #1 is a bumper bone china pack that includes: 6 x Double Wing Ornaments, 6 x Bambi Deer Ornaments, 1 x Feather Bowl Large, 1 x Feather Bowl Small, 4 x Columbus Votives and 4 x Boston Votives. If you win, you can keep every last piece to yourself - or pass on to friends. The gift that keeps on giving!

Prize #2 includes a sterling silver Threadspool necklace from Miss Jones' new collaboration with bespoke fashion jeweller Gareth Hughes. Keeping with the thread spool theme, 4 x Thread Vases are also included in the prize.

Thank you Miss Jones (it's going to be hard to part with all the beautiful things, but after all, Christmas is all about giving back). I hope you all had a lovely weekend - and I really look forward to reading your comments.

-Briar

Took the Ford for a spin

My little blog has introduced me to some pretty fun things, but I never would have guessed it would lead me to driving around in a brand new car for a week. Ford asked me to test drive the new Focus (I know, I was surprised too) and it's going to sound like a blatant and cheesy plug, but I ended up feeling pretty spesh zipping around town in the jazzy little number. I spend too much of my life behind the wheel, and I can't say I missed the bus-like proportions of my petrol guzzling Kluger. The Focus has waaaay more buttons that I'm used to in a car (um...it can park itself - check it out here), and I actually couldn't work out how to tune the radio it was so fancy. I was worried I wouldn't be able to fit as much as I tend to need to load during the working day - but after putting the seats down, I was pleasantly surprised. My other half was also pleased, because for one week - we were a two car family. I've always said 'I'm not a car person', but after loving the Focus for a week - I can honestly say I turned in to a bit of a petrol head...like my husband jokingly said 'totally off-brand for the Sunday Collector'. Oh well. What about you? Are you a car person?

What a weekend

The contrast in my photos over the weekend represent the weather in Sydney at the moment more than anything else. This week I have had a day in a t-shirt, another in a knitted jumper and a day in a hooded raincoat. Crazy times. What's also crazy is the amount of good food consumed over the weekend. My husband's birthday fell on Wednesday, so the festival continued well in to Saturday and Sunday.

The sun appeared out of nowhere for a ferry ride in to the big smoke for dinner at quite possibly my favourite restaurant ever. I treated the birthday boy to Pendelino. If anyone out there is the keeper to their 'heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad' recipe, contact me immediately. I need it in my life all the time (apologies for the quick table shot too, the husband doesn't love to dine with the embarrasing blogger/restaurant critic in me).

The rainy night before we enjoyed dinner with friends (with good cheese and a cute table setting) at a lovely home up the road.

The sun was well and truly back on Sunday and to continue the birthday festivities we hosted a lunch with family (I use the word 'we' loosely - pictured above is actually my husband's cooking). I did look after the place settings - which were good old fashioned scratchies in an envelope. In case you are wondering, we all won zip. Happy Birthday my sweetheart. x