funny friday...

It's Friday again... where does the time go.

Guinea pigs and rabbits can't sweat.

The porpoise is second to man as the most intelligent animal on the planet.

Skunks can accurately spray their smelly fluid as far as ten feet.

The duckbill platypus can store as many as six hundred worms in the pouches of its cheeks.

There are more than fifty different kinds of kangaroos.

Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear any pants.

A tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion will make it instantly go mad and sting itself to death.

Astronauts are not allowed to eat beans before they go into space because passing wind in a space suit damages them.

The word "queue" is the only word in the English language that is still pronounced the same way when the last four letters are removed.

Have a fantastic weekend everyone. x

steamcream...

I'm sure I've rambled enough about my love of steamcream but I've just seen their Christmas tins and they are the cutest.

This little Rudolph tin is adoreable.

Imagine pulling this little gem out of your Christmas stocking.

They also have lots of great deals on at the moment too so if you're stuck for a secret santa present or just want to treat yourself then definitely have a look.

buy it here...

va va voom velvet...

Velvet is something that we didn't see for quite a few years but seems to be making a regular comeback for the last few Autumn/Winters. Nothing says luxury like a beautiful velvet dress on a cold winters evening. I'm missing out this Christmas as I'm in Australia so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that velvet is still big in 2014 too.

Here are few velvet pieces I have bought and a few more I could definitely see me parting with my pennies for.

I love this little skater style dress. It is super comfy and has little dots of glitter all over it. The three quarter length sleeves work great for winter too. It looks fab with black tights and black heels. I have gotten heaps of wear from this dress already.

Everyone needs some black pumps so why not make them velvet too.

Berry shades are big this year and this burgundy velvet dress is just perfect for a night out on the town. Paired with black tights and boots and a black leather jacket this is a super chic outfit with a bit of edge too.

You can't have black pumps without getting a matching pair in navy too.

This dress oozes sophistication. It is a simple silhouette that lets the velvet speak for itself. I got this as a gift last Christmas and lived in it.

I really am not a leggings type of person but I just couldn't leave these behind. I love black velvet because it really is the darkest black you can find and wont lose it's colour. Leggings and a loose shirt with some heels and statement jewellery work great for a festive get together.

I need this dress...

I think some velvet boots will be next on my wish list. I would give a great home to any of these.

bottle top top ideas...

I recently saw this picture below and ever since I have been determined to create this look. The floor was made by laying bottle tops down like tiles and grouting and sealing them. I need to have this is my house, that is when I get a house...

Determined as I am I have already started my bottle top collection. I thought if I'm going to have a bottle top floor I may aswell have one that has bottle tops from all around the world and ones that will remind me of certain events and parties too. Billy thinks I'm slightly crazy but he has been very good and when we were recently in the country I could usually hear him coming before I saw him as his pockets were rarely without a collection of bottle tops. My brother who works in a bar here in Melbourne has also agreed to help me on my quest, although I don't think he knows yet that he will be carrying most of them back to Ireland with him in December.

I also really love this look. It's amazing how different colour tops can create different looks.

This would be a good alternative to a floor covered in pennys which is also another idea I have seen and really like. Victoria Bitter bottle caps would be perfect for this one.

I'm looking forward to watching my collection grow and even more looking forward to seeing the floor come to life although I know this is a way off yet... must be patient....

some bunny to love 2...

When I started the first some bunny to love post I had picked out about forty photographs but decided against putting them all in the one post so thought I would do second small post with a few more pics of Bunster on his adventures. He really is very spoilt.

Bunster came to live in the office I worked in for a couple of weeks. Our landlord decided to sell the apartment we lived in and as Bunster was not on the lease he had to go while viewings were being held. He loved being in the office as he had so much attention. He just hopped about nudging everyone's feet under their desks until they gave him cuddles and kisses.

Here he is with Sazzle, just relaxing.

When he was tired of all the hopping around and socialising he would just chill out in the middle of the office.

I used to take him down in the lift at lunch times so we could sit on the grass in the sunshine. He hated the grass to start with and wouldn't leave the towel but got used to it after a while. He had quite a few fans from the office block.

Before he moved to the office I used to bring him in for visits in my bag. He loved poking his head out and taking in the scenery on the walk to work.

Here he is in Ireland before I brought him to Dublin to Sean. He loved sitting in the flower bed in the sun. He was safe here too because I knew he wouldn't jump down from the bed so I didn't have to worry about him running off.

Just enjoying the sunshine.

Rabbits are amazing pets but do your research if you think they might be right for you. Don't buy your bunny from a pet shop either. Go to a rescue home like I did and give a sad bunny a second chance.

friday friday...

Strawberries aren't actually berries, but bananas, avocados, pumpkins and watermelons are. - Hmmm this one is going to need some investigating...

One person in 20 is born with an extra rib.

Rubbing banana peel on mosquito bites will help stop the itching. - wish I'd known this before heading to SE Asia.

You can tell from the statue of a mounted horseman how the rider died. If all four of the horse's feet are on the ground, he died of natural causes. One foot raised means he died from wounds suffered in battle. Two legs raised means he died in action.

A lump of pure gold the size of a matchbox can be flattened into a sheet the size of a tennis court. - I want to see evidence of this one.

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

Polar Bears trying to blend in with the ice will sometimes cover up their black nose with their paws. - this is so cute, and clever too.

The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing her hands in Jello.

The thin line of cloud that forms behind an aircraft at high altitudes is called a contrail.

If you squeeze your nose together where no air goes in or out, you can’t hum. - it's true. I tested this one, at my desk, at work.

These foods will give your brain the most power: Dark Chocolate, nuts, seeds, fish. - and who says chocolate isn't good for you.

Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete. Yikes, that's strong.

Have an amazing weekend. Xx

cheeky cheek tint...

I've always been a fan of a bit of bronzer and more recently have gotten into using blush. I love how it can freshen up your look and add a more natural hint of colour.

Recently I've been getting a little bored with my look though and decided it was time to try something different. Also as it's coming into summer I wanted to freshen up my look a little more too.

I'm becoming a big fan of a more dewy look so decided it was time to swap my powder blush for something new. I have used a few cream blushes before and quite liked them.

One of my favourite blushes is o-glow which is a gel blush from Smashbox. It comes out of the bottle clear and then adjusts to your skintone to give a natural glow. I have used a few tubes of this so I was tempted to get it again but decided I may aswell try something new. Life is too short right? Well, I'm glad I did because I've found a real winner here...

I bought this bottle of cheek tint from missguided.com and I think it was only a little more than $5. What a bargain! You paint a few strokes onto the apples of your cheeks before blending in well and et voila fresh faced glowing cheeks. I am in love with this product. It's really easy to use and you can build up the colour if you are not happy with just one layer. I have been wearing it just over my BB cream and it looks like I have no makeup on at all, just really fresh looking skin with a dewy finish. I think I may well be saying bye bye powder blush from now on....

cheeky chicken and leek bake...

I've always been a huge fan of a great bake. There is something so comforting about a delicious bake and I just love serving one up in my Emma Bridgewater baker and leaving everyone dig in and help themselves. It's such a great way to use leftovers aswell and transform them into something new and delicious.

This is one that I cook over and over again and I've never had anyone not want to go back for seconds. It is so delicious and really great on cold winter evenings served up with some baby potatoes and green beans, or just as nice in the summer with some fresh salad.

Ingredients
1 tbsp oil
4 chicken breasts, diced
2 leeks, washed and sliced
25g butter
2tbsp plain flour
300ml semi-skimmed milk
125g Cheddar cheese, grated
mushrooms, optional, I just can never have too many mushrooms.

1. Heat the oil in a non stick frying pan and add the chicken. Cook for 5 minutes.
2. Add the leeks and cooks for a further 10 minutes while covered.
3. Meanwhile in a small saucepan melt the butter and add the flour. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
4. Take the saucepan off the heat and gradually stir in the milk, bring to the boil until thickened, then season and add half the cheese. Stir until melted.
5. Place the chicken in an ovenproof baking dish and pour over the cheese sauce.
6. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese (at this point I usually decide I need more cheese) and place under a preheated grill until all the cheese is golden and bubbling.

My mouth is watering just thinking about this. You must try it, I'm almost certain you'll love it.

wooden pallet love affair...

I have a real love for things that look rustic and natural and I love the idea of reusing and making something new and exciting from something that was probably destined for the dump. As I've been travelling for a quite a while now I'm beginning to look forward to finding somewhere to call home for a little bit longer then a few months. I know it's a way off yet but once we do settle somewhere I want to have all my ideas ready to go. Recently I have seen a few photos of wooden pallets being reused so decided to do a bit more investigating into this and love what I found.

A super cosy low sofa made of pallets. This would be perfect for a snug area. Piled high with comfy cushions.

I love the look of these beds. They look really rustic and loved.

What a cute little table. The glass and wheels made it look quite modern too while still being really functional.

I love the legs on this little foot stool. A perfect place to store some books and magazines too.

This kitchen table is so beautiful. I love the different colours and how they all work so nicely together. This is definitely a table to have dinner parties around.

How cool does this chandelier look? It has that stripped back warehouse feel that is really popular right now. I love how the lights are hung at different levels too.

This feature wall is amazing. Again I love how all the different colours work so well together. Each piece of wood has a different story to tell.

I'm feeling pretty inspired by all these pictures. Going to need to stock up on some pallets when I get back from travelling. A few DIY projects on the horizon I think.

penguin parade...

As it was Billy's birthday on Thursday I decided to plan a fun filled weekend for us both to celebrate. We have kind of decided that while we are away travelling we would much rather spend our money on enjoying things rather than buying each other gifts. How very practical of us but it means we really are having the most amazing time away.

On Friday we kicked off the weekend with dinner at a mexican restaurant, one of our favourite types of food to eat and then we went to see Captain Phillips. If you have not seen this movie you must go. It is based on a true story and honestly I don't think I took a proper breath from the moment I sat down until after I had left the theatre. It was fab. Seriously gripping stuff and so well filmed too. Tom Hanks is as always outstanding in this roll.

On Saturday we were up early and went for brunch in town and then went to meet a bus tour. We hopped on the bus at one and headed off down south to Phillip Island. Our first stop was at Churchill Island to see a working farm. We saw a working dog display and also a blacksmith display. There was loads of animals to see here including some wallabies and guinea pigs. There was also a beautiful old house to see too.

From here we went to a Koala Conservation centre. The koalas are just so chilled out, sleeping high up in the trees. They sleep for about twenty hours a day. How crazy is that? We saw about ten Koalas here. Some were pretty big too. I was quite suprised by that.

We then went to see the Nobbies rock formations. The view was spectacular and we had a lovely walk along the boardwalks there. It was pretty windy but so fresh. The air comes straight off the Antartic so apparently some of the freshest air you will breath.

Our final stop on the journey was to see the penguin parade. This was absolutely amazing.

Firstly you visit an information centre where we saw these Penguin nests. Some had newborn babies in them too. You can just kind of see the little babies wing peeking out from under it's mother here.

We also got to learn some interesting facts about the little penguins. Tough love in the penguin world.

You then get to sit down by the beach and watch the little penguins coming home for the night. You see them all as they cross the beach and head home to their nests. It takes them a few goes before they pluck up the courage to make the dash but when they do it is fab. There were hundreds of penguins. As you head back up the boardwalks afterwards you are within touching distance of them all as they waddle home. They were just so so cute. It was a pretty full day so needless to say we snoozed for the whole bus journey home.

On Sunday we met my brother Pete for brunch. As usual Pete was over half an hour late, nothing new there at all. We had a delicious brunch at one of our favourite restaurants called Phamish in St Kilda before heading to town. There was an open day on at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) so the boys were dying to head there. We have already been there to see some footy games so this was their chance to actually get to go onto the pitch. We went and bought two footy balls on the way there too. The place was packed but it was so much fun kicking the ball about. The stadium looks so amazing from the pitch. We had a nice cool cider afterwards to bring us back to life and then Pete headed off to work. We were feeling a little lazy so decided to eat out instead of facing the cooking when we got home. I can't believe it's Monday already. Roll on next weekend.

for more info have a look here...

friday facts...

Mosquito repellents don't repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito's sensors so they don't know you're there.

Odontophobia is the fear of teeth.

The amount of force used to bite into a carrot is the same amount of force to bite your pinkie off.

The three most spoken English words are Hello, Stop and Taxi.

It is genetically impossible for a rose to come in color blue.

The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.

The elephant is the only animal with 4 knees.

On average, people swallow 1.5 liters of urine when swimming in a public pool. - swimming with my mouth closed from now on.

"Duff" is the decaying organic matter found on the forest floor.

The Ears of a cricket are located on the front legs, just below the knee.

Snails can sleep for 3 years without eating

The sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." uses every letter in the alphabet.

oh there's just so many random facts I could keep going all day... but I won't. Have a fabulous weekend. Xx

lip balm love...

With the sun beginning to shine here I realised my lip balm did not contain an SPF so went in search of one that did and boy am I happy with what I have found.

Maybelline Baby Lips not only look like a whole lot of fun but smell great and do the job too.

The first one I tried was the Menthol one as I love cooling menthol products. This works great. It smells devine and feels pretty refreshing too.

The second one I have just gone and bought is the Mango Pie. This is really lovely and not too sweet smelling. It reminds me of some kind of sweet I've had before but I just can't remember which one. Maybe it's something sherbet. These have an SPF 25 which is great and come in at a cool $3.99 over here so a bit of a bargain too.

There are a number of different colours to choose from and some are even tinted and some are sheer gloss colours so I may be daring and try one of those ones next.

cosy cobbler...

This is a recipe me and my friend found to test out some new bakers that were being produced at work. If I remember correctly I think we ate the whole thing that night but did bake another one for an office birthday party that was being held the next day so we could share our triumph. It is so delicious and really easy to make and light on the washing up too.

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup milk
2 tins of peach slices
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Ground cinnamon, nutmeg or a vanilla pod

1. Preheat the oven to 180° celcius, gas mark 4.
2. Melt the butter in a large oven proof baker.
3. Combine the flour, 1 cup sugar, the baking powder and the salt in a bowl.
4. Add the milk, stirring just until dry ingredients have all been combined.
5. Pour the batter over the melted butter but do not stir.
6. Bring the remaining 1 cup of sugar, the peach slices and the lemon juice to the boil over a high heat while stirring constantly.
7. Remove from the heat and pour over the batter in the baker and again do not stir.
8. Sprinkle with cinnomon or nutmeg if desired. I tend to prefer nutmeg or even add some vanilla to the milk for a super luxurious taste.
9. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown.

You can serve the cobbler warm or cool and I love to add a big scoop of vanilla icecream on top. Delicious.

back to black...

Every year I make the crazy claim that I'm going to wear less black. Who am I kidding? I can't get enough of black as soon as winter sets in, yes yes I wear black in the summer too. Black looks super sleek and I love the different effects you can get by layering different fabrics together. There is such a variety out there that black doesn't have to be dull or boring at all. My motto is if you can wear black tights with it then it's good to go.

Here are a few black essentials that every lady should have in her wardrobe:

A black pair of jeans is a must. Look after them too and wash them with suitable detergent to keep them staying nice and dark.

I love black tights, with heels and a cute black dress, or with converse and some denim shorts you just can't go wrong with black tights. I like mine to be at least 100 Denier. The darker the better and you can even get nice cosy thermal tights to keep you extra warm through the winter months too.

A black jacket is a wardrobe staple. Invest in a classic shape and have it dry cleaned after each winter and stored away properly and it will last you for years.

Some classic black heels work well with any outfit, paired with jeans and a sheer shirt or tights and a dress you really can't go wrong. Again invest in a good pair and remember to have them re-heeled and resoled and they will really go the distance with you.

Black nail polish comes and goes but for the last few years it has been big on the scene. Previously it was seen to be a little grundgy but now it is as chic as ever. Update your black manicure with some mattifying polish for that super sleek look.

Don't worry I'm definitely not forgetting the most important item of your winter wardrobe but I think the LBD needs a whole post of it's own so stay posted. Xxx