My trip to Brisbane - meeting Faux Fuchsia, Willow + Lotus, and excessive consumption of the breakfast buffet

Last week I went to Brisbane for work for three days. It was a grand event. Two things I noticed about Brisbane - the humidity made my curls look good, and the temperature is a really warm type of cool. Weird. It was a nice bed in my hotel, but there was no doona. Just a blanket covered by a sheet. I was cold and I missed having a doona.

Let's not beat around the bush. The jeans I wore to dinner at Treasury Casino on Wednesday night did not fit me on Friday night. I ate too much.  I ate four plates of seafood,

 Some ribs and sweet potato...

 And a plate of desserts...

 

And the breakfast buffet where at 7.15 am I ate a plate of camenbert and swiss cheese, cold meat and fruit

 And some jars of lychee rice pudding (ok I had two jars) plus lavender fruit salad...

 And eggs royale to celebrate the Royal wedding.

I was longing for some maternity style jeans to fit the foodbaby in my tummy.

I was invited to a glamourous jewellery launch at The Tribune Brisbane. The Tribune is located in a funky warehouse style building and it stocks high end and emerging designers. All the glamourous people were there.

There was some coloured cuffed pant action.

And some citrus jewels mixing it with some citrus fruit.

The launch was for Red Phoenix Emporium's Dolce Vita Collection. It's inspired by Italian fashion and food. There was gelati to match the jewels.

I loved it all.

I especially loved the long necklaces.

Here I am with Red Phoenix Emporium's beautiful designers, Lotus and Willow.

Their Dad was there too, very proud and taking pictures. He also has a blog. He took this one of Lotus and I. Mandatory dress shot...

And a shot to make us look taller.

I bought a Red Phoenix Emporium brooch. I love the light and shade it reflects.

 And it came with a cute pouch!

 

I also admired the art of Andy Geppert, who illustrated these postcards and the invite for the launch.

 I also bought two pretty cards Andy designed.

The most anticipated moment of my Brisbane trip was meeting Faux Fuchsia at the Tribune. She is so friendly, funny, lovely and beautiful. She was radiant. And her clothes sparkled.

And Baby Faux Fuchsia is as cute as a little designer frock button. I had a long cuddle and he didn't cry. Perfect baby! He wore a cardi that matched red cuffed pant man's.

I had a wonderful night. I loved meeting Willow, Lotus and FF's friends, and another blog reader Anne-Marie and her daughter Kate. Thanks for the invite, it was so very special. The Red Phoenix Emporium blog even lists me as a celebrity!

On my way back home I captured two rainbows.

I arrived home exhausted because a lot of work was done in between social engagements, but I was so happy because I had a nice time.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Christmas is in the air. I love Christmas - the present purchasing (and exchanging) is my favourite. Actually, present exchange and carol singing are the only real Christmassy things I do. Nevertheless, I'm already in the Christmas spirit!
Today at work, my American colleague brought in pumpkin pie.

And canned cream!

It was delicious!!!

My first taste of pumpkin pie was last December, when the same colleague brought in a pumpkin pie. It was like a custard tart. My Aussie colleagues and I can't fathom how Americans eat pumpkin as a dessert.

I had one piece at morning tea, and then after lunch, I was presented with a pie box and a slice of pie on my desk. Thanks D and N :)

The pumpkin pie was to celebrate Thanksgiving. I am quite ignorant to the meaning of Thanksgiving, but I like the idea of giving thanks and celebrating with a feast.

I am thankful for a loving family, great friends, and so many wonderful opportunities happening for me. I am living the life I imagined - being a real writer!

We don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia but I lived vicariously through the TV show Felicity.

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I was always a Ben girl.

When I watched Thanksgiving scenes on Felicity, I loved the family spirit the holiday creates. I think Thanksgiving should be an Australian holiday too!

I don't have a holiday tree like Faux Fuschia. But last week I spent an hour lunching in the sunshine with my new lovely writing friend Pauline. I saw a giant holiday tree in the city, perched atop astroturf. (I personally think Faux Fuschia should be its chief decorator.)

Here is my view from the park bench.

And look at the beautiful sky. A sign an Australian Christmas (and the heat of summer I dread) is on its way.

I mentioned I love to give presents. I have done most of my Christmas shopping already. I am going on a day trip to country Victoria tomorrow and hope to pick up a few things from the boutiques there. Stores pull out their best bags at Christmas - here is one I got from Kikki K.

I love to carefully choose the gifts, thinking of my recipients' likes, personalities and hobbies, and then lovingly wrap them.

When I wrap Christmas presents, I think of Love Actually...

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...well actually, not of Billy Mack and his girls, but Rowan Atkinson wrapping the necklace for Alan Rickman's mistress.

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My Tiffany experience reminded me of that scene!

I hope your Christmas preparation is going well :)

Tonight will comprise takeaway noodles, pink wine and watching Love Actually for the 878th time, and then perhaps Felicity. I adore Love Actually so much <3

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How did you find me?

I have a lot to do tonight, but I want to blog :)  So due to time constraints, it's just a mini blog entry.

Following inspiration from the lovely Faux Fuschia, I want to know the stories of how you found my blog. Some of the stories from FF's readers were great. Can you believe one of her childhood neighbours stumbled across her blog!

So...how did you find my blog? And how long have you been reading? Was my blog recommended to you? Were you searching for 'Carly Findlay with pink skin'? (That's a true Google search!) Or are you an old friend secretly lurking? 

I'd love to know! 

And there may even be a prize for the best story!

 

I love the communities that blogging creates. The kindness and friendships created is wonderful.

Wise words from Faux Fuschia

The lovely, stylish blogger Faux Fuschia wrote the following on her blog today, after the sad passing of her grandmother.

'Life can be so difficult. Stay focused-Let's grab what happiness we can. With Both hands. Starting Now.
You've been told.'

I agree. Take every piece of happiness and all the opportunities you can.

Thanks for your assertion, FF. I believe in it strongly.

My Saturday - belly dance, shopping and cooking

This morning I had a sleep in and then headed out to belly dancing class. I love belly dancing class - it is a lot of fun, and a genuinely worthwhile exercise that brings results. Since I've been doing that and body balance, my torso, arms and legs have toned up really well. I love to shimmy - that is a move where you move your knees quickly so your bum wobbles. I especially love it when I can hear the jingle jangle of my hip scarf.

We always laugh a lot in class - I have two other friends that come with me, and we spend a lot of the time being silly with each other - doing raunchy moves, ribbing each other about our ability and laughing with the rest of the girls in the class. Today I managed to do the whole hour long class without needing a rest! This is a big accomplishment for me. I commented on this, my friend joked with me that I must be feeling better or being less lazy than usual! I think my rock hard abs are developing from equal parts laughing and dancing. I know my lovely teacher reads this blog too, so a shout out to her and her funny analogies.

Here are some photos of me in my gym gear. I know - leggings as pants. It's ok though - my leggings make it easier to see the moves.



This is my coin hip scarf. Isn't it beautiful? So opulent. I love the purples and golds and all the other colours it makes when it catches the light. I have two others - a pink one and an el-cheapo yellow one I bought from eBay for $1.99, but this one truly makes me happy (and maybe a better dancer!).


After dancing my friend went to the local massive shopping centre and had a laksa to counteract all the exercise we just did. It was delicious.

While my friend bought earrings, I tried on my first diamond ring that was worth about $4000. The sales assistant told me that I shouldn't have to wait for someone else to buy it when I can buy it for myself. I told her 'Oh yes I will have to have someone else buy it at $4000'! It was beautiful. So shimmery, so sparkly - I could definitely see it on my finger. One day.

I bought two things.

With my free $30 Witchery voucher I bought a beautiful wool cardi. I put money towards it and it actually only cost me $15.45 - it was once $90! For once it's not a grey cardi (I have four!). It's like a greyish blue.


I also bought the new Angus and Julia Stone album - Down the Way.

It is gorgeously packaged - a little bound book that ties at the side. I can't wait to listen to it later as I do my uni readings.

I've also cooked two things tonight.

Some stewed apples and strawberries for a yoghurt cake that Faux Fuschia, the glamourous, domestic goddess of the blogosphere has inspired me to make. The apples are from my parents' tree. I love home made stewed apples, and in the winter, I love them with rhubarb and strawberries. This time I didn't put cinnamon and vanilla in, but I usually do. I did dust them with vanilla sugar though. Stewed fruit allows you to use the fruits that look a bit sad. My strawberries looked sad tonight.



For dinner I made lamb chops in the pan with fried potatoes - I love how the potato takes on the flavour of the lamb chops. I also had broccolini, sweet potato, carrot and purple cabbage. The vibrant purple cabbage and green broccolini went so well together - I've always loved a purple and green colour combimation. It was a delightfully colourful meal. A variety of colour also means I ate a variety of nutrients.





Here are some things I like in my little kitchen. I enjoy that everything here reminds me of loved ones or a great experience I had.

I really like plates and here are some of them. They all kind of match too. I think they look good standing up against the black tiles.

This green one is handmade pottery from Beechworth. I have a large bowl of the same design that I keep on the table. It reminds me of a James Gleeson painting. The purple one you can kind of see is just an el-cheapo from Target - I liked the purple pansy design.

This one with butterflies is from a friend one Christmas.

This one has a scarecrow on it. A family friend painted it for me when I was about eight, and she passed away soon after. I always think of her when I use it as a spoon rest. She lived next door to us when I was a baby and she would look after me a lot to give my parents some time out.


This is my seasoning tray.


The design on the tray is not visible, but it is another present from my dad - it has a droopy looking dog on it - a Weimaraner I think - it looks like a John Brack painting, but it's not. On the tray is salt, a pepper mill I bought from the Salamanca market in Hobart, and an oil decanter I bought in Beechworth at Christmas in 2008 - it has been handpainted in Australia and supports an organisation creating awareness about factory farmed animals. I love the green birds on the decanter.

Finally, here is my utensil rack - my Dad made this for me out of a small wire baking tray and fish hooks. It holds all the small utensils I need for cooking - it is very handy and I think every kitchen should have one. It's like a mini galley.

Hanging from it is a pickled onion catcher, mini grater, cheese knife, bottle stopper, kitchen scissors, regular scissors, egg separator, lemon zester, lemon juicer, whisks and lots of other goodies.

So that was my day. It was nice. Soon I will either make the yoghurt cake or do some reading for uni. I bet it's going to be making the yoghurt cake...

Tomorrow I will clean my floodrobe and sort clothes (because the cleaner comes on Monday) and start my first assignment of the semester.

This is a nice weekend.