Living it

I stop, close the doors so I can't hear the bloody TV in the next room, breathe out, let my shoulders drop and start scrolling through page after page...after page...of my newest (online) love. The further into the archives I dig the more I get lost in the photos and words and dreams that are passing me by with every new click and scroll. 

Rohan lives in an old school house (not like 'kickin' it old-school' old school, more like an actual house that belonged to a school some amount of time ago) with a 'useful garden' and a life that seems to revolve around food - and the growing, planting, hunting, gathering that goes with it when you are sustainably and ethically minded - along with some nice trees, mushrooms, kids and well, I guess photography and the interwebs when I consider for a second how exactly I know all of this about his life. The photos he takes are nek level!! Inviting, perfectly balanced (in every sense of the word) and truly make my insides warm as I sense the care and peace that surrounds them. Yes, yes I realise living in the forest doesn't make you a zenned out green space fairy but it sure as heck helps.

I get the feeling Whole Larder Love has more of an empire than I realise with a book coming out soon and an ABC Cooking Series link on the blog (which I must check out) but I really truly don't think that changes the way he, nor I, look at it. 

My mind is now wandering down paths of it's own where I see myself migrating north after a short and succesful spurt of financially sustaining work, to buy a nice piece of empty land where I will live simply, breathe, nest and create whatever it may be with my love. 

I think it's time for bed. 

x

Photos: Rohan Anderson//Whole Larder Love

cream over cake

Well, would you just take a look at that lady porn! French butter, strawberries, cream, cake, cookies, expensive caramel tea, heart shape cups & saucers, a pink Kitchen Aid, roses...oh my. I can't think of a better way to spend a Thursday afternoon. We were going to embark on a traditional Thursday lunch adventure but after an over excited exchange of text messages sharing recipe and photo inspiration (inducing CAPS and the odd, extra exclaimed "f**ck yeah")  we had a plan of attack and were ready to bake. 

It was nice to find both me and Hannah are kind of a bit I guess you could say, 'freestyle', in the kitchen. Not enough of this? Add a bit of extra that. Run out of milk? Use butter milk. Batter falling like thick ribbons? They're a little thin but I reckon it'll do! 

Our ginger bread cookie dough was a little too soft to use the planned Christmas (in July) cutouts so we settled on the classic and homely fork pressed circle (excuse my technical lingo nt). And the layered rasberry cinnamon cake...that became a single layer cream all over rather type cake when it didn't rise like we (or the recipe) had anticipated. And oh, rasberries were $10 a punnet so strawberries were substituted. 

We were ambitious and ended up producing a 4 course afternoon tea which meant no pretty day light to shoot and learnt two freestylers might need a few more years on them to be clever enough to deviate from the book. But you know what, dam it was a good afternoon - round two coming soon!

Photos: Rachel Kara

fantasy

Givenchy Haute Couture may well be operating in a parallel universe to my usual tea fuelled, woolen and toasted cheese sandwich interests/adventures, regardless, I am irrevocably drawn to the sublime beauty that presents itself  specifically in the group shots of Ricardo's collections each and every season. The clothes in themselves are works of art but my eyes see beyond this and somewhere into the depths of the photograph where I burrow into a realm of embellished floor sweeping fantasy. 

Come back in a few days. I'm in another world for now.....

x

Givenchy Haute Couture // Fall 12 // Spring 11 // Spring 12

Clouds come down

 







A pile of cosy winter pieces waiting to be photographed and a day off mid week for both my sweetheart & I and was just begging for a little trip out of town. After a sweetsweet sleep in the morning of, we were still deliberating between a scenic coastal drive or a journey to the mountains but a tweet from Hannah regarding a life changing experience to do with apples and Bilpin (best juice) confirmed the latter option and up the mountains the journey begun. The moment when the air starts to clear. The traffic thins. Buildings age. The temperature drops. Colours turn cool. Clouds come down. Walking into a cafe I imagine hobbits would dine and folk really do look and dress this, um, certain kind of similar way. Witches. Japanese tour buses. Getting changed in the car. Big cuddles. Boyfriend jacket. Love notes engraved in a tree. Creamy hot chocolate. Full lungs and satisfied souls.

A good day made even betterer by the dress ups and picture taking but minus the undesired nakedness that went on whilst changing in rather indiscreet places around Leura. 

ETA: I was tired last night when I posted but did intend to come back and tell you why these particular garments pleased me. Links will direct you to buy and browse the rest of both the Maille and Amy Kaehne A/W 12 collections - you may even find them to be on sale which is lucky as it is only now that we're starting to feel those single digit temperatures of an evening. 

1. Amy Kaehne mapplethorp jacket  Pluses +It's big enough to fit as many layers of your oldest favourite jumpers, jackets and any other warm layers you have in your wardrobe underneath in a way that you don't have to feel bad or daggy because you're wearing the sold out Amy Kaehne maplethorp cord jacket  +It's corduroy, an underrated fabric in my humble opinion +The hood is like a cocoon for your head and your beanie and messy hair     Minus -It's sold out :(

2. Maille drape jacket Pluses + Essentially this is the shape of a dress jacket, the warmth of wool and the comfort of your everyday cardigan...but that bit more luxe. That's 3 pluses in one! +Drapes at the front leave room for a variety of necklines underneath +Two tone...chose your weapon

3. Amy Kaehne Contrast neckline jumper +It's PINK!! For a girl who grew up loving cargo shorts, boys sneakers, camo print and skate/surf brands, pink is an unexpected plus but I do love it in the right place, ie: here and on my scarf which reminds of Garance but I can't remember why? +Light and roomy enough to layer +That practical point of transeasonality blahh which is always a good (practical) point especially when investing dollars into fabric +On sale 

4. Maille Long sleeve side gather dress +It's a dress but it covers and warms your legs because it's for winter. Der. People need call upon this ingenius design more often. Perfect for the days and nights you want to enjoy the simple freedom that comes when you wear a dress...but it's cold out and stockings defeat the freedom concept. Oh hey maxi with long sleeves and nice soft clingy sexy fabric you're perfect! That was many pluses. -Super fine merino around your derrière can make you want to go to the gym more. Decide whether this is a plus or a minus for yourself. 


Photos: Tim Ashton (rrr--rrr-rrr-rremixed and landscapes by Rachel Kara)