Daylesford Cottage

I hope you've had a great weekend. I have been in bed sick since Friday which hasn't been much fun. I did secretly enjoy the time to myself though I have to say, sleeping and flicking through mags in between naps, and being looked after by my husband. Spring is nearly here in the Adelaide Hills and I can't wait for more sunshine. 

I received an email from my mother-in-law this week of this gorgeous cottage in Daylesford that I just had to share. The inside of the building is just stunning, imagine what you could do with a blank space like that... ah the mind wanders. Holiday house maybe?... it is for sale x

Images from realestate.com.au

ixxi magic

If you haven't heard of ixxi yet, let this be your introduction. It is a decorative wall system where you can create a collage of different prints, however big you like, or enlarge your favourite image and bam! make an impact just like little Chester above. My friend Kendall wanted a print to make a collection of three on a blank wall in her kitchen. Inspired by Simply Grove she ordered her very own ixxi. I love it! You can see some other examples on Simply Grove and on the ixxi site.   

Images from KD

Little Girl's Bedroom

I hope you are having a great weekend! In between rushing to sport and work today my husband and I managed to finally take down the cot in our daughter's bedroom and put together an antique bed given to us by my gorgeous friend Lorraine. I saw the bed in her attic a while ago and she said it was "meant for Amelie when she moved from a cot to a bed". I absolutely love the mix of old and new and so I was very excited by Lorraine's generous offer. I bought some beautiful bed linen in the July sales and we had a mattress made to fit the bed, which is an old 3/4. Basically, it is the width of a king single but the length of a single. Perfect size for a growing toddler. 

The transformation has now begun, changing Amelie's room from a baby girl's room to a "big girl's" room. I've got a bit to do yet, including covering her toy box lid with the most divine linen fabric from Thea at Thea & Sami, but I thought I'd share a sneak peak anyway. 

Simple Halloumi Salad

Do you ever freak out when "the vegetarian" comes for lunch or dinner? My family do all the time. They are traditionalists in the kitchen and can't understand how I don't eat red meat. "You'll eat lasagne won't you Kelly?", "No Mum it's got red meat in it". I used to adore my Mum's beef lasagne as a child, but I can't go there now. I think she's a little taken aback by that.
I must admit, I know I confuse them as I have changed my diet a few times over the years from being a complete vegetarian, to eating chicken, to pescatarian, to no dairy, then dairy.
My husband and I have now mastered the art of coming up with quick fresh and tasty vegetarian meals that don't contain pasta. Some amazing ones do, but not this one. A simple fresh and delicious vegetarian halloumi salad. It takes just minutes to make and vegetarians and non vegetarians will love it. Try it next time 'the vegetarian' visits you. They'll be impressed.

GRILLED HALLOUMI SALAD

Ingredients
A couple of handfuls of rocket
A handful of flat leaf parsley
A handful of mint
1/2 cup of frozen (or fresh) peas, steamed
Halloumi
Olive oil
Red wine vinegar
About a 1 tspn brown sugar


Place all greens in a bowl. Feel free to tear the mint and chop the parsley a little if preferred. Cut halloumi into fours. I usually cut it in half down the centre to make it a little thinner. Baste with olive oil and grill or fry in pan for a few minutes either side until brown. Add to salad and then dress with olive oil, vinegar and brown sugar.  We had this just the other night, but it'd be great in summer too, cooked on the BBQ. Yuuum!

Before and After... TV Unit

A long while ago I told you about how I was going to paint our television unit. I did it then and there, but it has taken me all this time to put up the before and after shots... mainly because our lounge room is always untidy with toys everywhere and it was never the right time to take them. Well today I have made the time, not that there is actually much of the lounge room in these photos... I zoomed in. I am so happy with the result. The timber before was too yellow and didn't match the other timber pieces in the room. Now it just blends in. We've had friends even compliment us on our 'new' cabinet, and I've then proudly confessed, it's not new, just a paint job. With pretty handles.

BEFORE

AFTER

I bought the door knobs from a gorgeous little French inspired shop in town. I think I am about the only person I know who doesn't have a plasma... still got the trusty Toshiba... I can't justify buying a new television when this one works just fine (man I sound like my mum!). Plus it gets covered in little finger prints at the moment anyway.
Hope you have a great weekend. We are off collecting wood on Sunday. Should be fun. I get to catch up with my Auntie, Uncle and cousins that I haven't seen in a while, so looking forward to it. x

Warm Rocket, Roast Vegetable and Fetta Salad

I felt like something warm and yummy today for lunch, and healthy too. My daughter and I made this Warm Rocket, Roast Vegetable and Fetta Salad and it is absolutely delicious.  I could quite happily eat this for every meal I think. If you enjoy meat you could also add some chicken tenderloins or grilled lamb and serve it as a side dish. I love it on it's own.

Warm Rocket, Roast Vegetable and Fetta Salad

Ingredients
Assortment of root vegetables (or any veggies you love - I also add zucchini and eggplant if I have it)
Rocket
Fetta
Olive Oil
Sticky or aged balsamic

Peel and cut your veggies into medium sized pieces. Place on baking paper in a roasting dish or a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and roast for about 40 minutes in the oven on 180 degrees. Get a large handful of rocket leaves and place in a large salad bowl (I picked mine from the garden). Crumble fetta into the bowl and then add your roast veggies. I had potato, parsnip, carrots, sweet potato and zucchini (courgette) in the house so that's what I went with. Beetroot is also yummy. Drizzle a little balsamic over the top and give it a gentle mix then serve. OMG!

Sweet Daphne

I am loving waking up to the smell of sweet daphnes at the moment. I have a gorgeous little posy sitting next to my bed from a dear friend. Their fragrance reminds me of eating fruit loops as a child. Sweet and floral. Little memories and a great start to the day.