Heavenly Holiday Houses

A while back in an old issue of Notebook magazine, I was awe-struck by a beautiful property featured. It was one of the retreats on the Black Barn Vineyard in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. After some browsing, I found that all of the properties listed on the Black Barn site have been beautifully decorated, taking advantage of a neutral colour palette without compromising on character. Here is a collection of my favourite Black Barn images...

All images from here

Menu Planning Monday

One of my tasks on Mondays is to sit down with some recipe books and my recipe folders and plan our meals for the week. I realise menu-planning is not for everyone but personally, it has helped me avoid the 'what are we having for dinner dilema' and has helped reduce the amount of food we seemed to waste. It also makes grocery shopping on a Tuesday so much easier, especially with the help of my little notepad from Etsy shop Jot It Down. This notepad has room to list your meals for the week on one side and the grocery items needed on the other and is perforated down the middle so you can take your shopping list with you and put your meals list on the fridge.

Each week I try and include a variety of dishes and one new recipe. I also sometimes make double of a dish so that we have enough for two nights. This week our meals include:

Tuesday – Pastizio (a type of pasta bake)
Wednesday – Paprika beef skewers and creamy potato salad
Thursday – Pastizio (a type of pasta bake)
Friday – Out for dinner
Saturday – Prosicutto wrapped sage chicken and green salad
Sunday – Mushroom and steak sandwiches
Monday – Potato and aspagargus tart with tomato and bocconcini salad

What’s your family’s favourite weeknight meal?

Weekend Reads

This pile of books on my little sidetable (most of them library loans) is what I'm going to be reading/flicking my way through over the weekend (in addition to vacuuming, dusting, mopping, potting some plants and baking!!)...

The Longest Trip Home - John Grogan

Top 100 Baby Purees - Annabel Karmel

The Creative Family - Amanda Blake Soule

Children's Parties - Rose Hammick & Charlotte Packer

Blogging For Bliss - Tara Frey

ebay Photos That Sell - Dan Gookin & Robert Birnbach

Real Living Magazine (January/February issue)

If you're looking for a new blog read, then head over to Rubies Place and Le Bonheur, two lovely blogs I discovered this week. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Night Owl Or Early Bird?

Before Grace was born, especially when I was pregnant, I used to be a real night owl. I loved working away into the late hours or curling up with a book, promising myself ‘just one more chapter’ before lights out. Since Grace has arrived, my daily routine has switched somewhat and now I love nothing more than getting out of bed early, just as the sun is beginning to cast it’s glow over our garden.

For me, this time of the day is my chance to sit at the computer, cup of tea in hand and do some blog browsing before Grace wakes. Following her morning feed, we sit out on the patio and have breakfast together and then Grace is more than happy to sit in her high chair watching me water the pot plants or hang out washing before we head out for the morning. It really is such a lovely time to be outside before the summer heat sets in for the day. How about you – are you a night owl or an early bird?

Elk Accessories Jewellery

Images from here

I’ve been admiring the jewellery by Melbourne based Elk Accessories for some time now and am thinking of buying one of their lovely pieces with the Christmas money my Nanna gave me. Now to decide which one is my favourite... at the moment the adjustable drop necklace is the front runner. Does anyone else have any jewellery by Elk Accessories?