Pretty in pink...And turquoise... And grey... And green.

 

There are so many lovelies that are on my permanent  WANT! WANT! WANT! list. Like that antique day bed, art deco ring and fur cape. You know, just everyday stuff that may appear before you one day in a monumental example of thrift shopping providence. 

There is always so much to covet but alas, so little cash to buy. Ho hum.

But a little miracle occurred in a curiosity filled rabbit warren of a store called Aunty's Place in

 Lang Lang. I! Found! Vintage! Canisters! Squeeeeeeel!

 

 

I have been searching in shops and lurking on eBay for retro Gayware and Nally ware for the longest time, but have always been hampered in my quest by the ridiculous prices. So, in the last place I would have expected, I found this beautiful Nally set of four kitchen canisters. A little worn. A tad abused. Definitely much used and I'm sure very well loved. Huzzah! And for a pittance !

 

 

Now they sit atop my kitchen shelves as if they have always been there, in beautiful pastel shades that suit the spot perfectly and lift my spirits every time I walk by.

Have you been lucky lately and found anything on your wish list?

 

I will leave you with some other wonders from Aunty's Place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me made funkalicious ottoman cover.

 

 

 

I am of the school of thought that says, "It's a bargain - buy it now!"even if I don't really need it.

 (I'm sure I'm not alone here am I people?)

So I have lots of excess goodies (my husband may differ in his opinion and call it 'crap') just hanging about in the spare room until the day arises when it shall become useful and beautiful once more.

 I discovered two of these sad creatures in the cutest retirement village run op shop ( you know the type - the retirees all take turns staffing the shops and drink endless cups of tea, gossiping and bustling about energetically and you can have everything you can fit into a shopping bag for $5).

 

 

The lovely gent who volunteered at the shop insisted I have them for the princely sum of $5.

Yep, you heard me. Both of them. For $5!!!!! Huzzah!

Look at those cute angled legs! Not plastic, faux wood but real wood!

OK, so they were cream vinyl and someone had slapped an odd blanket type fabric on them, but I could see that they could become handsome and handy fella's again.

After sitting about catching dust for a couple of months, inspiration hit, and with the assistance of Nance my grouchy old sewing machine and some cool ottomans on pinterest, I whipped

up a bright and cheerful cover.

 I adore this fabric from Spotlight, with it looking like I've done alot more work than I actually have.

 

 

I think its very cute and snazzy and it is helping wonderfully in the "Brighten up boring lounge room" campaign.

And even better, it is a pleasure to rest tired feet upon after a long day.

 

 

Or rest a tired little bottom on.

 

 

Now I just have to tackle my ottomans twin, but I can't decide if I make a matching little guy or go crazy and use a completely different fabric. What do you think?

 

 

What unnecessary but completly necessary bargains have you been finding lately?

 

 

 

 

 

 



Galivanting at the gallery - or the attainment of culture

 

 

There comes a time in your life when you say to yourself, " I must endeavour to introduce my offspring to culture , dahhhhling". It's usually when you spy your child picking their nose whilst watching Spongbob, slack-jawed, in  nothing but their underwear.

And where can I go to improve myself, to help shape my children's artistic temperaments and inspire creativity? Why, the National Gallery of Victoria of course!

 

 

Not to mention that the NGV is bloody good fun as well as being educational!

 

 

 

 

My kids and I visited the Big Smoke (that's what we suburban dwellers call Melbourne), and had a lovely day traipsing around the gallery and especially loved the interactive kids area. I did, at times, fear for the safety of some of the art, but the gallery thankfully remained intact and unscathed after our visit - whew!

 

 

 

Melbourne is such a wonderful city, beautiful and vibrant, and I always feel energised and inspired when I spend time wandering through its streets.

 

 

Were my children somehow improved intellectually and artistically from our day trip I hear you ask.

Well I was pretty tickled when, upon closely pondering "Garden of Love" (Master of the Stories of Helen - Antonio Vivarini) - above, and reading the title my 6 year old said, " It is about the garden of love and you can tell they are all in love because they have rosy cheeks".

 

 

Culture? You bet your arse we've got it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mill Antiques and a tartan beauty.

I've always associated Geelong with it's football team and car manufacturing, but I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that Geelong is a beautiful little city with a lot to offer the vintage loving girl.

Geelong has several wonderful vintage emporiums like Mill Antiques, Pegasus Antiques, Moorabool Antiques Gallery, How Bazaar Antiques and Kenny's Antiques as well as lots of op-shops and weekend markets.

  My clan would have had the mother of all tanty's if I had dragged them to all of the vintage and antique sellers in Geelong, but I did manage to lose myself for a little while in Mill Antiques in the waterfront area.

My purse strings wouldn't stretch to allow me to purchase any of the extravagant lovelies like the enormous space-age white TV,

 

 

or the watermelon pink coloured fridge,

 

 

or the scariest looking doll in the universe.

 

 

(OK, so I could afford the doll but I was scared that if I bought it I would wake up in the night with it trying to eat my throat.)

 

I didn't leave empty handed though, just a little lighter in the bank account.

I discovered this Quaker Lady beauty, struggling futilely as the terrible 1970's mannequin was doing a fine job of detracting from the dresses charms. Poor thing was hanging baggy, askew and covered in handbags.

 

 

 

Isn't it lovely! Beautifully constructed with over sized pockets, adorable faux-gem buttons and gathered at the shoulders. And the fabric is the most amazing tartan in black, grey, white and red cotton. Simply perfect for summer teamed with my red clogs and a cute little red bow belt.

 

 



 

 

I'd love to know more about the Quaker Lady brand but can't seem to find any information, so if anyone can fill me in I would  be very grateful.

 

 

 

Thanks to Mill Antiques for allowing me to take photos.

 

 

Let them eat cake!

 

I have always loved bananas but I was never a big fan of banana cake or banana bread until I tried this recipe and then BAM! - I was hooked.

Be prepared - this cake is so moist it is almost like a pudding, and it is addictively delicious.

It is a great way to use up those bananas that are a bit past their best (we always seem to have a few sad old ones in the fruit bowl) and best of all, if you  don't get all crazy and decadent and slather these

 with icing then they are not as sinful as other cake. Yep, that's right, healthy and yummy!

I discovered this recipe in a $1 cook book from the op-shop called Healthy Eating on a Budget by Jane Barnes. I'm not sure if you can still buy it but if you want more recipes like these and live in Australia you can get all old school and borrow it from your library.

 

QUICK BANANA MUFFINS

3-5 bananas mashed (the number depends on how banana flavoured you want it)

2 cups of plain or wholemeal flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 cup soft brown or caster sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

60g polyunsaturated margarine

1/2 cup low fat plain or greek yoghurt

3 eggs

 

 

Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well or be lazy like me and put it all in a food processor and blend.

 

 

Pour into muffin cases. The mix with 5 bananas usually makes about 12 -15 muffins.

 

 

Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees celcius for approx 20 minutes or until skewer comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

 

 

Serve when cool. Or don't. I loooove them when they are still warm.

 

 

If you do want to be terribly decadent then why not make up a chocolate and peanut butter frosting.

Ohhhh yeahhhh!

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 The original recipe calls for jam to sandwich two layers of cake together but I tend to make these into muffins so omit the jam. I also at times add chocolate chips after everything has been mixed together if I feel naughty.

 

What have you been baking lately? I'd love to know your favourite recipes.

 

 



Gadding about in Geelong.

 

 

My little clan haven't been able to manage all of us having time off together during this summer holiday period (I know, sad face), but we did decide to squeeze in a teeny tiny mini break in beautiful Geelong.

My husband and I have travelled to Geelong a while back, sans children (ooohhh, romantic!), and I somehow talked him into visiting every op-shop (thrift shop) within a 50km radius. On foot. In the rain. What a man!

This time, with the children, we had a wonderful time exploring all the delights Geelong has to offer.

 

 

 

Exploring the waterfront area.

Running riot in parks.

 

 

 

Soooooo much delicious food that my waistline is cursing me for my lack of will power. I blame Panache Cafe and Creperie for the most amazing crepes in the world!

All of this as well as splashing about in the hotel pool, admiring the beachfront mansions and a little shopping for me at the excellent Mill Market - Waterfront (more on this wondrous treasure trove to come in a later post).

Oh, and ofcourse some pretty vintage summer frocks, because what would a beachside getaway be without some lovely breezy cotton dresses.

 

 

 

 

 

Now if only I could do this every weekend!

Has anyone else been recharging their batteries in lovely places lately?

*I'm sorry I haven't been able to provide links to any of the places I have visited but I just could not find their websites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sun, surf and sandcastles.

 

 

 



We have been sweltering in Melbourne  with the temperature reaching 41 degrees yesterday. That is too freakin hot for anyone let alone pale, doughy moi. I've had to just lay about sweating and moaning (that helps apparently) and pretty much not do anything in case my core body temperature rises too much and I spontaneously combust.
Thursday was a bit cooler and both my husband and I happened to have the day off so my little clan spent a glorious morning splashing about and building sandcastles at the Seaford beach after an amazing late breakfast at Crackerjack Cafe.

 

 

 

 

 

How do you try and stay cool?