Cheating a teeny bit but still joining in with Jane

I am joining in with lovely Jane who is behind the blog Small But Charming and showing you my flowers in the house... She is showing Flowers around the Summer house but we are in topsy turvey land Down Under so we are in Autumn/Winter mode here of course.... First two photographs show my lovely bunch of Jonquils given to me by the divine Ms. S. They smell amazing.

And below - next two photographs these lovely blush pink spray roses. Given to me by Mr SE just before he jetted off to Europe (yes, again) on business on Saturday evening.

And here is the cheaty bit!! But I know that Jane will appreciate this as she is a florist. These are photographs taken at my local Florist run by the very sweet and gorgeous Cobi. She is so young ( think perhaps early twenties?) yet she owns and runs this successful business with a team of helpers.

LOVE the saying on the board outside.. "Winterference" - great!

Outside the shop above and below.

Entrance.

And above 5 photographs just taken here and there around the store....

Beautiful isn't it?

I've been "Shellac-ed"

On Thursday I went to my local nail salon and had my nails done. With Shellac Gel. No, it's not something that goes on the top of a piece of furniture finished by French polishing as I had previously thought but a new nail technique. Well, new to me - may be quite old hat to you.

It cost twice as much as an ordinary manicure but apparently will last up to 3 times as long. (So therefore in my book = Good Value For Money). And it's different from Bio Sculpture Nails (which often give the appearance of a thick layer or two of polish on your nails) and Bio Sculpture nails are more expensive (so I am told) than this new shellac polish....

Downsides : as yet not a HUGE selection of polishes to pick from but enormous UPSIDE : as soon as it is done you can pick up your bag, your keys etc. and off you waltz. No more trying not to smudge your nails and spoiling a manicure within 10 minutes of getting them done. RESULT.

So, I will be counting the days that this lasts and will let you know. So far, I am really quite impressed.

Happy Weekend to one and all.

Margaret River Region, Western Australia

Mr SE and I had a wonderful time last weekend in the beautiful Margaret River region of Western Australia. I flew to Perth (Mr SE was already in Perth on business) and then we hot footed it in the car 2.5 hours south....



This is where we stayed - Empire Spa and retreat. Very relaxing with an Eastern influence.

Photos above and below taken in the hotel grounds.

Loved the cascading water fountain below ....

We walked the 2kms out (and back !) along Busselton Jetty - the longest pier in the Southern hemisphere.

Although it was sunny the wind was pretty fierce... these seagulls were trying to keep their heads down out of the gale!

Beautiful sunrise.

Mr SE was interested in exploring the Ngligi Caves - where there were plenty of stalactites and stalagmites to spy!

All quite eerie and interesting if not a tad geographical for my tastes!

Mr SE loved it though...

I rather liked these sheep with their black faces which we passed on the way to one of the region's many wineries. The Margaret River region is one of Australia's most prolific wine producing areas.

The vines above looking very Autumnal. And below the Howard Park Estate where they produce the range of wines that are one of our favourites....
We ordered a case to be shipped back to Melbourne! Free postage too - great value.

Last pic for the post today - Mr SE....

We had a wonderful weekend. And hope you are enjoying yours wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.

Frothy Underpinnings

My blog pal 'That's Not My Age' posted about some gorgeous underwear that she was thinking of investing in last week... See HERE. And at the time I was awaiting a package from delicious lingerie company - Mimi Holliday (by Damaris) Like TNMA, I have to admit that the state of my 'knicker drawer' is rather a sorry one. And I am not one for matching sets (more's the pity laments Mr SE) - adore the idea of them but just have not got myself sufficiently into the matching underwear mindset. However, this could change..... This underwear is beautiful. It is sexy but supportive and the bras do not look like the 'over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders' I have had to put up with in the past. Although I do like bras by Prima Donna - but a girl has to have a little froth and lightness in her life at times. And so I present to you :

Above. Exhibit A - black French lace and silk 'French Knicker' - this will go with a plain black seamless bra I already own (the matching bra to this one from Mimi Holliday was completely SOLD out in my size). Sad, but good for my bank balance.

And Exhibit B ..... above and below... such delicate underpinnings... And a MATCHING set - be still my beating heart. It fits and looks gorgeous...... - this is the 'blurb' about this design from the website :

A darling oyster 100% silk satin and white lace story- Rossetti is the ultimate in lady-like elegance and right on trend for a ballet inspired fresh Spring look. The subtly between the graphic white French lace and soft oyster silk satin creates a luxurious effect- it is a very wearable and understated story....

And from the website - the pics below to show you what they look like on - well, you didn't think I was going to model them - god forbid ;-) ?!

Above the set "Rossetti" and below :

The black French knicker.... ("Bisou Bisou")


Their arrival is perfect timing. Mr SE and I are going away this weekend (it's a long weekend here in the state of Victoria) off to the Margaret River region in Western Australia. Can't wait!!!

Season Envy

What's wrong with me......?
It's not that I don't like Autumn which is well and truly upon us here in Australia (in fact I might go so far as to say that it is my favourite season) it's just that I want what you've got! You lot in the Northern Hemisphere. Or perhaps it's a case of the grass seems always greener. I have loved seeing Spring photographs on others blogs and imagining a Summer in England. Maybe I'm homesick or feeling sad at the thought of not being around during the long holiday break from University that my daughter has just begun.
So in the hope of "snapping out of" this melancholy - here are a couple of Autumn photographs I have taken over the last week.... Above - our skinny latte and skinny flat white coffees we had last weekend at the market in South Melbourne. Excellent coffee place called Padre. And I love the pottery earthenware - that struck me as very Autumnal. And below, also snapped at the same market :

Fresh walnuts in huge sacks. They looked really beautiful - what could be more "seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness" I wonder ? Maybe this below - a photograph taken a while back when I was in UK - my English Apple cake :

For the recipe which I posted on the blog then please click HERE.

Enjoy your Season which ever one you are experiencing!

Trying to shed a few pounds

Mr SE and I are on a health kick....
Which roughly translates as moderating our intake of things like wine, cheese, crackers etc. (or rather cutting out completely in the case of the cheese and crackers) keeping an eye on portion sizes etc. and adding more vegetables, salads and fruit to our diet. And for me, I have added a daily brisk power walk - of around 3 to 4 kms. Also going for healthy choices such as the breakfast below: This is not a hardship as this bircher muesli is quite DELICIOUS.

I loved the glass jar but when it is finished I will make up a batch myself. The ingredients are as follows : Rolled oats, sultanas, almonds, sunflower kernels and dried apples. You could make up a batch and add dates, or apricots to I would imagine......

You have to be organised and make up the bircher muesli the night before. So, to one measure (1/3 cup) of the dry mixture you add the same measure of milk (I use low fat) and then 2 to 3 tbsps of yoghurt. Cover with cling film and leave in the fridge overnight. In the morning you can add fruit of your choice - grated apple is wonderful.....

See below my breakfast this morning....

And here is the view for my walking route... Gorgeous Autumn colours and even better when the sun shines.

Initially we (decided by Mr SE) are doing this for a period of 5 weeks and Mr SE has printed out a chart to map our progress - apparently there is a prize for the winner he said! We are nearly 3 weeks into our "regime" and so far I have lost 4 pounds and Mr SE 1 pound . (and for those of you who deal in Kgs that is around 2Kgs for me and 1/2 Kg for Mr SE).

Shall I start planning my prize yet I wonder or will it be a case of the hare and the tortoise?

Beauty product LOVE - Chantecaille's 'Just Skin'

I am impressed. Very. Having read all the reviews and hype about this gorgeous tinted moisturiser (not actually a true description really as I would say it was more of a foundation) I bit the bullet and forked out quite a lot of $$$ for this which is in reality about the size of a small tube of toothpaste!!

However, the old saying is correct - you get what you pay for in life and I have to say I love it.

Chantecaille's 'Just Skin' is well, er, - just like your skin, only better. It covers fine lines, imperfections and pores and looks as if you are wearing no make up at all which is what I have always tried to achieve with foundations etc. and never quite got there.

Initially, I was given a sample of the colour 'Bliss' but found it too light and went back to the lovely SA at Mecca Cosmetica in the city and now have 'Nude' which is perfect for my skin tone. It's easy to use and buildable too giving you a heavier coverage if you need it but at the same time keeps that flawless finish. I also dust a light covering of pressed mineral powder over the centre of my face to take off the slight sheen and to make it last all day. And a huge bonus - it smells lovely too.

Have to say, I'm hooked!

P.S. No, I was not paid or sponsored for this post but if the kind people at Chantecaille would like to send me a year's supply of Just Skin (in Nude please) I wouldn't say no!!

Anyone else love this or are you true to another tinted moisturiser/foundation that you'd never be without?

A delivery from My-Wardrobe dot com

Look what arrived in the mail the other day. Well, to be honest they could not get it into my mail box and so left a little card to say it was at the local Post Office. I got home at around from work at around 5.45pm and so immediately rushed out again with my little card to see if the newsagents (where our mail counter is) was still open... Much happiness as they were, and I claimed my 'loot'!! Carefully undid the box and lifted the first layer of tissue paper.

And in photo below - down to the box wrapped in the my-wardrobe.com logo paper.

And here - tah-dah!!!

My Belstaff boots - such beauties, in antique black.

I have been searching for these high and low since I saw a similar pair in a shop in Byron Bay when we were there last month. (They only had one pair left in a size 36)

But to no avail - searched all over the internet etc. and none in my size. ANYWHRE. I emailed My Wardrobe and they suggested I kept "checking the site to see if we have a pair returned" .... Got to admit I did not hold out much hope. However, a couple of weeks ago - one pair appeared in my size - obviously FATE, and I had to have them.... Naturally. The leather is deliciously soft.

And just look at the soles - leather too, of course but with special non slip pieces on them.

Here they are in their glory...

And photos above and below show them on.
Sorry, photograph below was taken looking into the mirror - not all that great quality (UNLIKE the boots of course!)...

A little about Belstaff for those of you unfamiliar with the brand :


Belstaff - the Story:
A genuine British heritage brand, Belstaff's history can be dated back to 1924, when it was founded by father and son-in-law team Eli Belovitch and Harry Grosberg. Renowned for its legendary jackets Belstaff's patrons of the past have included motocross prodigy Sammy Miller the revolutionary Che Guevara and the ‘king of cool’ Steve McQueen.
The Collection:
A range of iconic biker jackets in original waxed cotton and leather, plus boots and bags to finish off the look.
Last Word:
With a constant demand for all things retro; Belstaff continues to recreate the iconic biker jacket it is most famous for. This brand has attitude, style and a commitment to sourcing the highest quality materials.


I love them (as you may have gathered) and am really pleased that the weather has turned very Autumnal and cool here recently giving me lots of opportunity to wear them.

Happy Semi Expat indeed.