Canned soup, Sydney shopping and other stuff

The trouble with being quite a good an expert home cook is that I don't know how to cook canned chicken soup. Off work, unwell with a cold, I thought chicken soup and orange juice was a good remedy. This orange juice is the best. Chicken soup not so good.  

The soup came out of the can like custardy Pal. I didn't know if I needed to add water to it. I didn't add water to it on the first 'cooking' serve. Heated, it looked like pure custard. On the second serve, I added water, and it looked like watered down custard. Errr yum. I should have made my soup from scratch. Major food regret.

I did eat other cold-combating foods. A slice of garlic chilli pizza. And Panadol. Is it a food? It is effervescent.

I figured that seeing I had artificial chicken, and was too unwell to eat dinner last night, the next best chickeny thing for me (aside from real chicken soup) is deep fried chicken. And salty chips.

The girl at KFC refreshingly told me she had a shitty day too. She said it with a smile. And gave me some coupons for next time I visit. My thighs dictate that I won't be visiting soon.

My day was spent sleeping, watching The Circle and the Nanny, and flicking through magazines. I am still not sure of whether I like Peppermint. The Melbourne Magazine has undergone a makeover. It features comedian and TV host Charlie Pickering who I once met in a lift and rabbited on to him as though I knew him. He did recognise me from the audience of the 7PM Project.

I want to make a speedy recovery, because a bad cold can end up in sore skin. So I am getting all the rest I can. Including sadly missing out on one of my best friend's birthday parties tonight. Happy birthday Scott. I will see you soon.

Today I also reminisced about my Sydney trip a week ago. I will write about the Aussie Bloggers Conference soon, I promise. I need to rest my body and mind for now, though. Reminiscing also included thinking about the shopping I did in Sydney.

I bought these at Simon Johnson when I was with Lanelle. I love elderflower.

I bought this from a boutique in Newtown on Friday afternoon with my friend K from school (and her cute babies).

The print is great. Flowers and deer.

I also bought these two cards from Monster Threads. So many cute things in store, and all I bought were these cards.

On Sunday I bussed it to Bondi Westfield. I had a rainbow cake. For breakfast. I was a bit hungover, and hangovers and holidays allow cake for breakfast.

I also spent my vouchers from my birthday and Christmas. First stop was JB Hi Fi - thanks LJ! I bought a Sia DVD.

 (source)

This was near the changerooms at Myer. I loved the series of pictures, most were from the Melbourne store.

 

At Myer, I fell in love with this dress after seeing it three times in Cue Sydney, and with 30% off plus two Myer vouchers, I had to have it!

 Here is the dress from the Cue catalogue. I am in love!

(source)

I can't wait to wear it with my merino jumper underneath, and boots.

Two more things. 

This Social Network review I wrote was published on DiVine today. I revised it from this blog entry.

And a big congrats to Faux Fuchsia on the birth of your gorgeous son! You're going to be a great Mum!

Girls night out at Miss Chu's + The Victoria Room

Friday night in Sydney was a girls night out. It was so much fun. I dressed up in my St Frock dress :) How beautiful is it?! The purple and the beading and the blush is so special. And it has a special place in my heart as Sandradee kindly gave it to me.

Sydney Shop Girl, Kristy and Sandradee and I dined at Miss Chu's, a Sydney streetfood institution. It was lovely seeing my friends become friends :) And Kristy is a big fan of Sydney Shop Girl's blog.

Sydney Shop Girl took this picture. Isn't it quirky?

I loved the shuttlecocks and bamboo steamers hanging from the roof hanging over the pavement.

 And the bananas. Such an expensive decoration!

We sat on milk crates, watching Sydney Shop Girl brave the long queue, filled with pretty, stylish young things (including YOU, SSG). Girls wore corporate casual with style - high waisted skirts, pearls, funky dresses and sky high heels. We admired.

The menu is fresh and tasty Asian. So cheap too.

Water came in plastic bottles resembling hip flasks. I loved the look. We wished we'd gone to one of the many bottle-os along William Street for some wine.

 We were served food in paper bags.

 

 We ordered heaps! Twice.

Chicken rice paper rolls (they'd run out of duck and banana flower ones) - so fresh and cool. Peking duck pancakes - rich and warming. Eggnet crab spring rolls - not greasy, nice and seafoody.

 Scallop dumplings and Shanghai dumplings - fat and juicy with spicy sauce.

 On our second order, Kristy and I ordered Wagyu pho. Spicy, lemony, slurpy goodness. Wow.

And we also ordered more pancakes. Yum yum yum.

We were all so impressed with Miss Chu's and I was excited to learn there's one in Melbourne. Must. Go. Soon.

We then walked up a large hill to the upmarket Darlinghurst bar, The Victoria Room.

Sydney Shop Girl had a Cinderella moment and changed her amazing sky high shoes to sensible yet stylish flats.

We saw two more Cinderella moments - this carriage at a lavish Russian home decor (??) store.

We lamented that Kate Middleton won't be having a horse drawn carriage at her wedding, and I remembered Kirsti from Melbourne on My Mind went to school with Kate Middleton when she was known as Catherine.

The third Cinderella moment was more bogan, more relatable. A nearly empty bottle of beer and one shoe. I hope she found her prince.

Once we braved the hill, we had cocktails at The Victoria Room. I found it hard to choose. I chose rose and lychee.

 I felt so grown up at The Victoria Room. So plush and posh.

We shared dessert - I had the privilege of choosing them. A divine rose pannecotta with strawberries. So light and creamy, and just sweet enough. It was my favourite of the two.

And this, an apple tart tatin, which I adored only a millimetre less than the pannecotta. SSG and Sandradee loved it! It was warm and rich, and had a sticky sweet caramel sauce.

Friday night in Sydney was the perfect end to a perfect day. Here's to my friends becoming new friends. You can read Sydney Shop Girl's blog about the girls night out here.

Being treated like a princess at St Frock

 

On Perfect Day 1 in Sydney, I went shopping. One of my lovely blog readers/Facebook friends, Sandradee, owns a shop in Pyrmont called St Frock. She invited me to St Frock, and so Lanelle and I went on the bus to see her. We winged it on our travels, not sure where we were going, until we saw this, nestled in a cute terrace shopping strip!

I shrieked and asked the bus driver to stop! We jumped off and headed inside.

St Frock is a beautiful store. It's luxurious and girly and magical.

It stocks funky and affordable labels such as Love & Lies, Kylie Hawkes, Gingham & Heels, Mok Theorem, White Euphoria, Maria de Guzman, Erin Louise, Sage, By Cherry, Mink Pink, Staple The Label and JUNK.

This amazing blossom tree lit up the window and featured delicate necklaces hanging from its branches.

 

Lanelle loved the tree. How beautiful is this picture?!

 There were butterflies and autumn leaves on the walls. So pretty.

 

And post-it hearts as a wall decoration.

The puppy was wearing an aviation jacket because Friday was photoshoot day, and a model was wearing an aviation jacket too.

Sandradee is so so so wonderful. She made us feel welcome, and was such a good hostess in the store. She has an inspirational story - following her dream to open a store after a life changing moment. She has a hard work ethic - her Pyrmont store opens seven days a week, she also sells online, and does markets on weekends.

And she is so very generous.

Sandradee treated me to some gifts in the store. She said she is inspired by me. I was honoured.
She gave me these beautiful clothes, and a unicorn necklace.

I felt like a princess. I was helped into the clothes by Sandradee, and was photographed by Lanelle. So very special.

I wore the clothes both nights I was in Sydney - pictures to come.

Thank you so much for the generosity and great service, Sandradee and the St Frock girls. I loved the experience ♥ I am honoured and still smiling.

You should all visit St Frock at 190 Harris Street, Pyrmont, NSW, Australia, or online.

More Sydney happy snaps

Preparing myself, like Cinderella, for the Aussie Bloggers Conference ball. Basically involves sitting naked, waiting for Vaseline to absorb, while drinking cider. Classy.

Here are some more pictures. Stories later.