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?

 

 

 







 



 



Happy New Year!

 

 

 

image found here

 

May 2013 be bursting with fun times, happiness, fulfilment and creativity!

I had such a great New Years Eve spent with some of my favourite people, lovely beverages, delicious nibbles and so much gut-busting, rolling-on-the-floor, eyes-streaming laughter, that my face hurts now.

You couldn't ask for a better start to 2013!

Here is a little glimpse at my night.

 

It was all so healthy until......

 

the baked brie made its entrance.

 

 

 

 

There may have been some illegal fireworks hi-jinks that were very, very entertaining but perhaps not so safe, so best not to incriminate myself any further.

I'm loathe to set myself New Years resolutions because, lets face it, I have zero will power and am just setting myself up to fail. Don't get me wrong, I don't have loads of terrible habits or issues that I need to rectify or resolve. I don't do crack, beat my children, spit on old people or spend all my money at the pokies. "You sound practically perfect" I hear you say. OK, so maybe not.

So even though I don't have resolutions, I have created a list of things I'd love to do in 2013.

 

1. Create more - I want to be inspired and hone my knitting and sewing skills and learn how to crochet. I want to feel confident following patterns and making clothes and not freaked out when I have no idea what the instructions are telling me to do.

image found here

 

2. Learn how to use my camera - Santa was good enough to leave a new DSLR camera under our tree

and although I love taking photo's I simply don't know what the hell I am doing.

 

image found here

 

3. Get healthy - I know it sounds so cliched, but there is a lot of room for improvement in my eating and exercise regime. (Not consuming my own body weight in Christmas pudding would be a start!)

I adore riding my bike, so I'd love to go cycling with my clan, having fun together in the great outdoors.

 

image found here

 

4. Take more risks - I am riddled with insecurities. Absolutely riddled! I second guess every decision I make and am so worried about not making the right decision that I don't end up making any decision and miss out on opportunities. I understand that that is part of my character but I am going to try really hard to just jump in, take risks, say yes and do it!

 

Gil Elvgren - Time for decision - found here

 

5. Enjoy the little moments in life - Aren't we all so busy, and I usually have an endless mental list of jobs that just have to be done. Right now!  I'd like to take a deep breath, push the task list away for a little while and just enjoy the precious moments that happen every day. Playing with my kids, talking with my husband, spending quality time with my important people, sitting quietly with a cup of tea and a book. These special moments are so fleeting that I want to snatch at them and embrace them.

 

image found here

 

I could probably go on and on with all the things I'd like to do in 2013, but I might leave some aspirations for 2014.

How did you celebrate the New Year?

Do you have any resolutions?

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 







Basking in the favour of the gods.

The op-shopping gods have been smiling on me lately, with me unearthing so many treasures lately. Bountiful, wonderful places like Vinnie's, Salvo's and Savers have been laden with dress shaped goodies. A veritable deluge of frocks has rained down upon me, and I have been basking in the bounty.

When I discover a pretty dress, a lovely handbag or an amazing curio, I feel that if I didn't buy it I would be terribly rude and ungrateful. The op-shopping gods have carefully placed it there in front of me to find because they in their infinite wisdom, knew that I somehow needed it. Even if I wasn't aware that I needed it. And who am I to deny or refuse fate.

So even if I am always on the hunt for the rare, unusual and vintage, I'm not going to spit in the face of the op-shop gift horse and not buy a cool dress just because it's not exactly original. I'm not a purist. I'm no vintage Nazi. I'm a bit of a frock tart - I'm up for anything as long as I think it's purty. I'm very happy to wear vintage inspired and try to achieve a feel of years gone by. You can always pull together a look inspired by a certain era, using very modern clothing pieces. Just take a gander at the divine Ulrika at The Freelancers Fashionblog. She has the most amazing style and very often uses reproduction clothing and divine hairstyles and make-up to achieve her look.

So here are a few of my recent discoveries; lovelies that have the feel of vintage but aren't.

 

I am smitten with this dress with its sexy bust detail, and very full skirt that is just made for twirling.

And at $7 I would have been crazy to say no.

The panels and bust are a cute black polka dot. I am such a sucker for dots.

 

The dress is labelled Chicstar and I'm guessing it is a European brand.

 

 

 I found this sweet day dress at  Savers for less than a tenner. I'm calling it my Susie Home-maker because I feel like a 50's housewife in it.

 

And how well do my new hasbeens from Lotta from Stockholm go with both dresses.

I am loving these shoes now that the Melbourne summer is letting me wear them. I think they may be the shoes that go with everything. Although I am planning on getting the black. And then maybe the nude...

 

How do you feel about vintage inspired clothing?

What vintage reproduction brands do you love?