Loving this week.

1. Magnolia Trees 

Last weekend my friends and I went driving around the Northern NSW Hinterland looking for an ideal spot for a picnic. Amongst all of the beautiful and lush, yes lush from all the rain we have had recently, green scenery were scattered magnolia trees in full bloom, in people's front yards, in the middle of round-a-bouts and randomly along the road. Here and there they were, a spectacular sight to see in all of their grey limbs and hot pink flowered glory. My only regret is that I didn't stop to take a photo. Later in the week as I was mindlessly scrolling through my Facebook feed I spotted a magnolia tree and stopped at an instant. I clicked through and was led me to find this amazing home garden at Mt Tambourine. It has kept my love well and truly burning for these beautiful trees. 

2. Beige Lipstick

With black eyeliner and sixties hair.

3. Donna Hay's Fresh & Light cookbook

Probably my favourite cookbook. The recipes are exactly as they are promised: fresh and light as well as healthy, tasty and easy to make. 

4. Gossip Girl

I know I have said it before, how much I love Gossip Girl, but after spending two whole days on the couch, due to illness of course, watching season three I am well lost in the GG world once again. 

5. New York City

As previously mentioned above I have been nursed back to good health with the help of Gossip Girl, all whilst dreaming of running away to New York City. One day I hope to experience the electricity of the city, ride in a yellow cab, walk through Central Park and sit on the steps of the MET and watch the world go by. 

In the Kitchen: Lemon Cheese Tarts!

Lemon cheese, or lemon butter which ever you prefer to call it, is also another recipe from my Nana’s cookbook. Every time I visit my Nan on her farm my fingers are crossed that she has a couple of jars in the fridge and some tart shells ready to go! The lemon cheese has a fresh zing that dances on your tongue when you take your first bite and then the short crust tart shells come in and balance it all out.

This is what you will need:

2 eggs

pinch of salt

juice of 2 lemons

1 teaspoon of lemon rind

1 cup of sugar

1 tablespoon of butter

Beat eggs, salt, juice, rind and sugar until frothy. Add butter and cook over a saucepan of boiling water until thick, stirring with a wooden spoon. This took me up to 15 minutes to get the right texture.

The lemon cheese is ready when it coats the back of the spoon.

To make the tart shells you will need:

1 tablespoon of butter

1 tablespoon of caster sugar

1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon of milk

5 tablespoons of self-raising flour (sifted)

Cream butter and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer. Add egg yolk and milk, then sifted flour. A dough should start to form that will look like the picture above.

With a rolling pin, roll pastry out onto a floured surface. Using a cooke cutter cut out circles and place into a greased mini-muffin tray.

Bake in a 200 degree oven for 10-15 minutes or until nice and golden, like above.

Spoon the mixture into the tart shells and enjoy! You can also keep your leftover lemon cheese in a jar in the fridge.

Inspiration: Lucy Chadwick

Recently I discovered this video of Lucy Chadwick by The Selby for Zara... I am not sure where I was when it first came out and how I missed, obviously I was living under a rock somewhere. Since then I have watched this video over a dozen times. Lucy's beautiful simple aesthetic is so mesmerising in the way that it encapsulates her personal style, interiors and career. When you listen to her speak you can tell that she is truly fulfilled by what she does, where she lives and who she shares her life with and that in itself is most inspiring. Style-wise I love her minimalist yet casual and comfortable approach. Her outfits are perfect for relaxing weekends at home or finding adventures on the road.

In the Kitchen: Florentines!

Freshly baked florentines take me right back into my Nana's kitchen on her five acre farm at morning tea time. Their fresh-out-of-the-oven scent would mix with the fresh country air and send a sugar rush through your body before you even bite into the crunchy biscuit. Their substantial serving size paired with a nice cuppa is the perfect way to see through morning tea-time and on to lunch. This recipe is uncomplicated and easy as pie. The hardest part is spreading the chocolate over the back of the biscuits and then waiting patiently until they set in the fridge!

This is what you need:

1 and a quarter cup of sultanas

1 and a quarter cup of crushed peanuts

3 cups of cornflakes (lightly crushed)

1 cup of glace cherries

1 tin of condensed milk

125 grams of chocolate (Go for a quality chocolate over a cooking one. You can use either milk, white or dark chocolate recipe; I have used milk.)

Preheat your oven to 180c.

Combine all of the dry ingredients, including the glace cherries, in a large bowl.

Mix through the condensed milk.

Line trays with baking paper and spoon small heaps of mixture onto trays.

Bake in oven for about 10-15 minutes  - make sure you do keep any eye on them though because they can burn quite quickly and no one wants to eat burnt bickies! Allow them to cool once out of the oven.

Meanwhile break up your chocolate and melt it in a bowl over a saucepan of boiling water (also known as a ‘double boiler’).

With a butter knife spread the melted chocolate over the base of the cooled biscuits. Place on a tray and refrigerate until set. 

Pop the kettle on, get out your finest morning tea plate set, make a pretty arrangement, sit down, and savour every bite. Enjoy!

Winter walks.

Dress: Cocolatte

Vest: Zara (similar)

Stockings: Voodoo

Boots: From somewhere in Melbourne... (similar)

Watch: Michael Kors

Ah winter. If there is one thing I like about you it's the low sunlight you bring, it makes everything so much prettier. This a quick outfit post inspired by a wintery Penny Lane in Almost Famous. This Cocolatte dress has certainly earned its stripes in my wardrobe by stepping up when I feel like wearing something a little different to what I usually do. The print has a very vintage vibe to it whilst the drop hem gives it a little movement without losing any shape. I inherited the faux fur vest from my incredibly stylish boss who had fallen out of love with it and going to pass it on to Vinnie's. As soon as I set eyes upon it it was going nowhere except straight onto my hangers and in my closet! Also helps that it is very warm and soft too.

Hope you are keeping your toes warm in some bed socks and uggs! x