settle petal it's just summer

Today I commented on a post on Sea of Ghosts about settling.

I have been torturing myself with what to wear in Bali for the next couple of weeks. I've said it before and I'll say it again I'm just not into Summer. So, you can imagine my Summer wardrobe leaves a lot to be desired. I cultivate my winter wardrobe and enjoy dressing in cooler months so I kind of brush over those few months of the year when it's scorching hot.

I'm a bit of an odd one when I fucking hate summer but grew up on the Gold Coast? I like sun! I tan! I love the beach....

You can bet that I'm also looking forward to the food, espeically a meal of deliciously cheap Pandang. I ate this exact meal from a small place on Jalan Bensari in Kuta everyday (happily) for a month. No wonder I lasted here for a couple of months... with Bali belly only once if you really want to know. If you really want to know about Bali belly, email me. 

However, it still leaves me with the question of "What the fuck am I going to wear?" I've had a look at Summer collections and I've bought bits and pieces that I like but am not in love with. I've settled for something instead of nothing and you know what? I'll probably wear none of it and stick to a sarong.

(not Bali)

Because even though I hate summer and the heat I love reading countless books, drinking double-double's till dawn and Bintang's on Kuta beach at dusk, playing with random dogs, getting my toenails painted daily and eating nasi goreng for breakfast.

st edmonds - the bloody mary

It's been a long time between posts and now because I'm writing for work I don't often feel the need to blog. I did come across something yesterday which I believe is quite blog worthy and quite fitting as it was the reason I began this blog in the first place. I returned to St Edmond's and they've  got a bloody mary on their menu just like they promised they would.

I quickly ordered myself one and was told that the maker was the 2009 world champion bloody mary maker. This turned out to be a lie, however, they do use a semi-secret ingredient of adding Shiraz to the tomato juice mix. Strange, very strange. But good, very good.

There's some nice chunks of ice, chilli hit as well sliced red chilli's and a (unnecessary, in my opinion) cucumber garnish. St Edmonds is not the cheapest place to have breakfast, lunch or dinner really and my fellow diner was not too keen on the service but I think she might be getting to used to those organic yoga cafes in Bondi.

Talking purely bloody mary appreciation this one rates a 9/10 for me.

elk

Surgery tomorrow so no more posts for a while unless you want the rantings of me hopped up on pain meds. I won't be eating much or wearing anything of interest either.

(look at that blue sky, it was almost beach weather)

I had my last meal out at a place in Broadbeach called Elk Espresso. It's such a relaxing place that we hung out nursing our breakfasts for such a long time that I got sunburnt and over anxious from way too much coffee.

The Gold Coast inspires healthy eating and so the order of the day was one of the best bircher muesli's I've had in a long time and fig toast with rasberry jam. Fig toast rocks my world.

I'm always struck by the number of Gold Coast breakfast spots that don't have a liquor license and so don't serve Bloody Marys. Is it more a Melbourne thing to get a bit tippley at breaky?

See you in a few weeks xx

Elk Espresso
16 Chelsea Avenue, Broadbeach

black coffee lyrics

I've migrated to the Gold Coast to be wrapped in a blanket of parental love and nourished with chick lit and the Family Movie Channel while I recover from an operation. The operation is not until next week so I've been lunching every day with my father (have eaten enough sashimi to sink a whale) and spending time with friends at their favourite places.

On Thursday they took me to Black Coffee Lyrics which is tucked in one of the old arcades in the heart of Surfers Paradise. It's more somebuddy's lounge room than a restaurant with a bring your own booze policy if you eat a main meal.

It would be great place to head to early in the night for dinner and stay on with a crate of wine. I'm not allowed to drink pre-operation so was introduced to this Phoenix Apple & Orange Mango juice. "Don't panic, it's organic!" I'm told.

I also learnt a new word - Fepic - which is fucking epic - which is exactly what these wedges of potatoes and sweet potato are. The almost veering on burnt ones are the best.

We next had a couple of pizzas which are made using thin, crunchy bases and are really quite tasty. They're nothing too out of this world, food does seem to take a bit of a backseat to the friendly service and charming atmos. It really is no wonder, these girls come here 3 our of 7 nights a week.

We finished our meal of wedges, pizza and gossip with a chai and if I was kicking on I would have tried one of their Dirty Chais. I've never come across one of these in Melbourne but next time I go out for coffee I'm ordering a chai latte with a shot of espresso, it will be fepic.

Black Coffee Lyrics
4/3131 Surfers Blvd, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast (I think it's the Centre Arcade)

mister wonderful

(Deadly Ponies Mr Kayak bag, DP Mr Mohawk Lure keyring)

Why this feeling? Why this glow?
Why the thrill when you say Hello?
It's a strange and tender magic you do
Mr Kayak, that's you.

From The Velvet Underground to the sweet crooning of Peggy Lee, new stuff in my wardrobe makes me sing (and smile, skip, saunter). Mr Kayak from Deadly Ponies is a deceptively small bag but one can lose an arm in it similar to Mary Poppins and her carpet bag.

My keychain, also from DP, is a new addition and has been nicknamed Possum Tail. What kind of weird and wonderful possum it comes from one only can guess. It bares a striking resemblance to Alexander Wang's neice in this photo...

(Image Courtesy buzzfeed.com)

st edmonds

A little bit bleary eyed from an over consumption of red wine on Friday night we headed to Prahran to try out St Edmonds. The cafe/restaurant is tucked into an old garage just off Greville Street.

I really liked the sweet little touches the menus which remind me of old school time cards in sleeves and Strawberry Shortcake would be pleased with the strawberry planters dotted around the place. They’ve also somehow managed to get a range of really hot staff which is always a nice touch.

Eggs were the order of the day. I ordered a fancy ham, cheese and tomato toastie with poached eggs on top. I loved the little touch of baby coriander sprouts, at least I think that’s what my tastebuds thought they were.

Chris, likes to think of himself as a Eggs Benny aficionado so that's what he ordered. The hollandaise was really tangy just how he likes it.

Both of our eggs were crazy fresh and had the runniest centres. Almost, too runny if you don’t like barely cooked yolks like we do. The coffees were weak but the orange juice was delicious and ispection of the lunch, dinner and specials menu ensures we’ll be coming back. The wine list also looks pretty good and I’m told that they will be adding a much needed bloody mary to the breakfast menu.

shiny shiny shiny boots of leather

When it’s cold it’s nice to be covered in a bit of cow. That’s what my mother says. Mum also has the theory that because cows live in a paddock, leather is fine to get rained on. This doesn’t quite work for silk though does it.

(Nicholas by Green With Envy jacket, LIFEwithBIRD dress, Wittner boots)

I find it so hard to photograph jewellery. Firstly, these earrings are really fine and secondly, I am long term nail biter so my hands are tremendously ugly.

(Karen Walker earrings, Drown rings, sapphire from Sri Lanka)

(Wittner boots)

I was so happy to find these Wittner boots. I've been living without a good pair of black flat shoes since my dear, dear sequin sneakers fell apart. So happy I broke out in this The Velvet Underground song.

mussels and beer

Eating mussels and drinking beer on a Sunday night is a pretty spectacular thing in our house. We’re usually dying with a hangover and eating pizza. This weekend past was a little different though as my sister’s show, Dance Academy, was up for a Logie.

I decided I’d cook steamed mussels with tomato sofrito, chorizo and chilli. I basically followed this Gourmet Traveller recipe but wanted to add some more spice and used blue mussels as that’s all my fish guy had.

I twittered the other day that it’s hard to beat a baguette with butter. But you can! A buttered baguette dipped into the spicy, soupy remains.

We also celebrated with a few beers from Doss Blockos, a Victorian micro brew. I’m not much of a beer drinker but one sip of this and I was hooked.

And then my sister won a Logie and I drank a bottle of red and ended up with a hangover on Monday instead of Sunday.

love in a cold climate

This week I finally started to wear my new fur gilet. And now you can't tear us apart. I especially like to work in it and every so often rest my cheek on it.

(Lonely Hearts gilet, Sportsgirl jumper, American Apparel tights, custom made shoes from Bali)

There's a few things wrong with my outfit:

1. It can be described as comfortable (according to NZ's Next Top Model an outfit should not be comfy)

2. Tights as pants (however, this jumper is longer than a lot of other hem lines I wear)

3. Fur (the vest is made out of New Zealand possum which is considered a pest and not the fat possum that lives in my roof)

in rainbows

I’ve had my eye on this Romance Was Born print since it came out. It’s like a bunch of orchids on acid.

This is the top... but because I'm rather on the short side it works as a shift dress.

(Romance Was Born dress, Shakuhachi shoes, White Suede jacket)

Another multicoloured dream is this Monster grilled chicken and salad sandwich from Galleon. It's just another reason (other than the Bloody Mary selection) to love the place.

zuppa and socks

While the days are kind of hot the nights have been chilly. I love the cold. As I’ve mentioned before my peak performance temperatures are quite low. When it gets cold there’s nothing I like more than rugging up with a hot bowl of soup and some cosy socks.

This cannellini bean and chorizo soup is hot AND spicy. You know how a lot of soups get better with age? This one doesn’t, so all the better to warm your tummy. I got the recipe here.

Simply served with buttery toast and some grated cheese. It’s a hearty winter lunch or dinner.

(Odd Molly socks)

The Swedes know how to make great socks.

These are my favourites. Partly for the frill and party for when I first had them they smelt of freshly laundered clothes and flowers. I'm looking forward to more soup and sock weather.

april fool

It seems I’ve played an April Fools on myself.

I’ve wanted sunnies of a certain shape for some time. I found a pair of Karen Walkers that fit the bill and were dirt cheap. I was thrilled because Karen Walker sunglasses usually suit me and because of the dirt cheapness. I waited patiently for them in the mail and then today, on April 1^st, they arrived.

(Karen Walker Sol Invictus sunglasses)

Note to self: always, always, always try on sunglasses before you buy them. The arms on them are swell though.

What's not a joke at the moment is my love of sweaters. I'm slowly building up a little collection of comfy knits and pieces.

(Sportsgirl sweater, Therese Rawsthorne leather skirt, Gorman clogs)

hunting for george launch

As I write this I’m trying with all my might not to eat a candle, that’s right a candle. It’s scented with basil, lime and mandarin and is the most delicious scent I’ve smelt in ages, more bewitching than a Maccas cheeseburger when severely hungover.

I picked up this PJ’s Tea Party soy candle last night at the Hunting for George launch party. I've written before about the onling store here.

Lucy and Jo the owners did an amazing job from choosing the space (Pillar of Salt in Richmond with their colander light fittings) to the invites which were printed on the backs of old book covers. Clever girls!

I wore my new Lonely Hearts dress and the goody bags came in what I'd call a Hunting for Bag library bag.

Isn't the print beautiful?